Streptococcus pneumoniae Rapidly Translocate from the Nasopharynx through the Cribriform Plate to Invade the Outer Meninges

Abstract

Using two-photon imaging, we show that pneumococci translocate from the nasopharynx to the dorsal meninges of a mouse in the absence of any bacteria found in blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Strikingly, this takes place within minutes of inhaled delivery of pneumococci, suggesting the existence of an inward flow of fluid connecting the nasopharynx to the meninges, rather than a receptor-mediated mechanism.