Intravital imaging of iRFP-expressing Neisseria meningitidis vascular colonization.
Bacteria rapidly bind to the human endothelium (UEA-1 lectin, grey) and locally proliferate. At 6 hours post-infection, the 3D-rendering shows the complete colonization of the human endothelium whereas no bacteria were detected within adjacent mouse vessels (mouse CD31, red). Time, hh:min:sec. Scale bar, 50 μm.