CXCL8 and pneumococcal meningitis: In an infant rat model of pneumococcal meningitis, V11A not only reduced the number of S. pneumoniae bacteria in CSF and blood but also reduced the concentration of cytokines GRO/KC/CINC-1 (an interleukin-8 (IL-8)-like cytokine in rats) and IL-10 in CSF.<h4>Discussion</h4>Our results support the potential of therapeutic peptide to reduce the bacterial burden and mitigate the inflammatory response in pneumococcal meningitis.