Meningitis and translucent bodies
Dr Simon Johnston @JohnstonLab explains his labs interest in the brain and meningitis.
"The brain is the most complex tissue in the human body and one of the least well understood.
The brain needs many different nutrients but must be protected from toxins and infection.
Infection of the brain, commonly in the form of meningitis, is difficult to treat and is most common in the most vulnerable patients.
Dr Simon Johnston @JohnstonLab explains his labs interest in the brain and meningitis.
"The brain is the most complex tissue in the human body and one of the least well understood.
The brain needs many different nutrients but must be protected from toxins and infection.
Infection of the brain, commonly in the form of meningitis, is difficult to treat and is most common in the most vulnerable patients.
We have found a new way to study how infections enter the brain and how we might prevent the damage they cause during meningitis.
We are using the zebraifsh to study human infections and meningitis. Zebrafish have translucent bodies that means we can study how infections enter the brain and how they cause damage.
We are now using this technique to find new treatments for meningitis."
Dr Johnston's lab published a manuscript last month looking how zebrafish can be used to study these processes.
For more information see paper LINKED HERE.
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