According to a study published in the journal Nature, researchers from Harvard University have found how bacteria hijack the crosstalk between immune cells and nerves to cause meningitis. In the study, the researchers showed that bacteria exploited the nerve cells in the protective layer of the brain, called the meninges, to suppress the immune response and allow the infection to spread into the brain.

In this molecular chain of events that results in infection, researchers have discovered two key players, namely a chemical secreted by nerve cells and an immune cell receptor that the chemical blocks. According to the findings of the study, limiting either one of the key players can stop the cascade and stop the bacterial invasion.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 1.2 million instances of bacterial meningitis worldwide each year. Die from meningitis if it is left untreated. However, mortality rates can be brought down to three out of every 10 cases with early treatment.

On the other hand, one in five of those who do survive deal with severe repercussions, such as seizures, chronic headaches, loss of hearing or vision, or other neurological issues. The most severe effects of the condition cannot be prevented using current treatments, such as antibiotics that kill bacteria and steroids that control infection-related inflammation, if treatment is started too late because of delays in diagnosis. 

(Source: https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1056213 )