Brain microvessels endothelial cells (BMECs) compose the first layer of the blood brain barrier (BBB). BMECs are seen in cerebral malaria (CM) pathogenesis only as targets of pro-inflammatory mediators and circulatory/coagulation imbalances.

We proposed that BMECs also take part in CM development as sensors and initiators of effector immune reactions elicited by Plasmodium components or infected erythrocytes (IE).

In particular, we plan to investigate the crosstalk of BMECs with other cell types at the BBB during malaria infection using co-culture systems (3D, microfluidics platforms) and tissue-restricted gene deletion models.

This research will delineate a map of interactions within BBB components detailing sensors and pathways of innate signaling and patterns of activation in cells of the BBB induced by exposure to IE that likely will be relevant to other infectious encephalopathies.