The host-pathogen interface in pneumococcal meningitis Lessons from the zebrafish model

Bacterial meningitis is a serious and often devastating infection of the central nervous system, despite advancements in prevention and treatment. The disease burden remains significant, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis and continues to exact a heavy burden globally. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis is required, as well as gaining more insights into its clinical features, to develop new intervention strategies. In this thesis, we illustrate that community-acquired bacterial meningitis continues to be a major cause of morbidity and can lead to serious complications. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of using the zebrafish model to study the molecular pathogenesis and pathophysiology of pneumococcal meningitis and other (central nervous system) infections, with particular emphasis on the interface between host and pathogen.