Although the infection-induced down-regulation of transcripts coding for cell-cell junction proteins in ECs, arachnoid barrier cells, and other cell types did not reach statistical significance (Figure 2—figure supplement 4), the altered localization of CLDN5 and the spatial correlation between this mis-localization and BBB disruption (e.g. Figure 5A) suggests that increased plasma membrane protein internalization and/or degradation could play a role in EC barrier defects. This evidence concerns the gene CLDN5 and infection.