Intracisternal Delivery of Meningococci into Mouse Models to Induce Meningococcal Meningitis

Begin with a restrained adult mouse and sterilize its abdomen. Inject an exogenous iron source intraperitoneally into the lower-right abdomen, preventing accidental damage to the surrounding organs.

The injected iron source enters the systemic circulation and travels to different organs to supply adequate iron for meningococcal replication.

Place the anesthetized mouse in a prone position, keeping the vertebral column straight, for easier access to the cisterna magna, a specific region within the cerebrospinal fluid, CSF-filled subarachnoid space between the middle and inner layers of the meninges surrounding the brain.

Sterilize the mouse's head. Inject a suspension of Neisseria meningitidis or meningococcus, a gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, through an occipital burr hole into the CSF-filled cisterna magna.

Within hours of injection, meningococci multiply in the CSF, occupying the subarachnoid space, which has inefficient host defense mechanisms.

The bacteria interact with the cells lining the layers of the meninges. This interaction triggers an inflammatory response; the cells release pro-inflammatory cytokines, and immune cells are recruited, leading to meningeal inflammation or meningitis.

Eventually, meningococci may also enter the systemic circulation and colonize other organs.