Bacterial interaction with specific host tissue may contribute to its propensity to cause an infection in a particular site. In this study, we examined whether meningitis-causing Escherichia coli K1 interaction with human brain microvascular endothelial cells, which constitute the blood-brain barrier, differed from its interaction with non-brain endothelial cells derived from skin and umbilical cord. We showed that E. coli K1association was significantly greater with human brain microvascular endothelial cells than with non-brain endothelial cells. In addition, human brain microvascular endothelial cells maintained their morphology and intercellular junctional resistance in response to E coli K1. In contrast, non-brain endothelial cells exhibited decreased transendothelial electrical resistance and detachment from the matrix upon exposure to E coli K1 These different responses of brain and non-brain endothelial cells to E. coli K1 may form the basis of E. coli K's propensity to cause meningitis. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.