How do fungal infections cross the blood-brain barrier?

January 26, 2012

Branden Blank Says:
January 26th, 2012 at 4:35 am
The blood–brain barrier is a separation of circulating blood and the brain extracellular fluid in the central nervous system. It occurs along all capillaries and consists of tight junctions around the capillaries that do not exist in normal circulation. Endothelial cells restrict the diffusion of microscopic objects like bacteria and large or hydrophilic molecules into the cerebrospinal fluid, while allowing the diffusion of small hydrophobic molecules O2, hormones, CO2. Cells of the barrier actively transport metabolic products such as glucose across the barrier with specific proteins. This barrier also includes a thick basement membrane and astrocytic endfeet.