Fig. 8. ^HMbmice have reduced cervical and uterine tissue burdens of P. bivia but lack protection against colonization or ascension of UPEC.

^HMbmice (HMb) and conventional (Conv) mice were inoculated with 10⁶ CFU of P. bivia (n = 9−16) or 10⁷ CFU of UPEC (n = 8−16). Recovered P. bivia CFU from (a) vaginal swabs collected on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 post-inoculation and (b) reproductive tract tissues harvested on day 7 (n = 5−12). MIP-2 quantified in (c) day 2 vaginal swabs and (d) day 7 uterine homogenates along with (e) IL-17 in day 7 uterine homogenates of P. bivia-inoculated mice. Recovered UPEC CFU from (f) vaginal swabs collected on days 1, 3, and 7 post-inoculation and (g) reproductive tract tissues harvested on day 7. MIP-2 quantified in (h) day 2 vaginal swabs and (i) day 7 uterine homogenates along with (j) IL-17 in day 7 uterine homogenates of UPEC-inoculated mice. Symbols represent individual mice with median and interquartile ranges. Data were statistically analyzed by Mann−Whitney test (c−e, h−j) with corrections for multiple comparisons using the two-stage linear step-up procedure of Benjamini, Krieger and Yekutieli and a false discovery rate (<0.05)(a−b, f−g). Statistically significant P values are reported. Adjusted P values < 0.1 are reported for (a−b), (f−g). P < 0.1 is shown (d) to be transparent of lack of significance.