A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that these secreted DEPs were predominantly associated with meningitic E. coli infection of the BBB (e.g., ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, and adherens junction) and neuroinflammation (e.g., the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, the Ras signaling pathway, pathogenic E. coli infection, and the NF-κB signaling pathway) (Fig 2C, S3 Table). The gene discussed is NFKB1; the disease is escherichia coli infection.