ECM-induced BBB permeability is attenuated in VWF-deficient mice. BBB permeability was assessed following a lateral tail vein infusion of Evans blue dye. Because Evan’s blue binds to murine albumin, it does not normally cross an intact BBB. Before P berghei inoculation (day 0), baseline BBB permeability was determined in WT C57BL/6J mice (black circles; n = 5) and compared with that of VWF^−/− mice (blue squares; n = 6). Subsequently, BBB permeability was then reassessed in WT C57BL/6J mice (black circles; n = 6) and VWF^−/− mice (blue squares; n = 6) at day +5 following P berghei infection. NS, not significant.