At 6–10 days of lethal infection, the cortex and cerebellum sections had increased ICAM-1-positive staining in vascular cells, as well as increased detection of CD45+ leukocytes, CD3+ T cells, IBA1+ phagocytes, and GFAP+ astrocytes, but a marked loss of occludin-positive tight junction staining, implying progressive endothelial activation/damage and cellular recruitment in inflamed brains. Here, OCLN is linked to infection.