Pathophysiology of blood-brain barrier alterations during experimental Haemophilus influenzae meningitis.

These data demonstrate that haemocin production and type b encapsulation, although closely associated, are encoded by independent genetic elements. Studies with the infant rat model of infection suggest that haemocin may play a role in the pathogenesis of invasive H. influenzae type b infection. The availability of the cloned hmc locus and mutants deficient in the production of haemocin will allow further analysis of the genetic basis of haemocin production.