FIG. 5.

MIP-2 production by BMDM infected with WT M. ulcerans 1615 or with the mycolactone-defective mutant 1615A: kinetics and effects of MOI and supplementation with mycolactone. BMDM were infected with a 1:1 MOI (A and D) or with MOIs ranging from 10:1 to 1:15 (B and C) of M. ulcerans strain 1615A or 1615, in the presence (D) or absence (A to C) of mycolactone. For cytokine measurement by ELISA, supernatants of three independent wells were collected from each experimental group. (A) Although M. ulcerans 1615A induces larger amounts of MIP-2 in comparison with M. ulcerans 1615, significant amounts of the cytokine are produced with the mycolactone-positive strain. (B and C) BMDM infected with M. ulcerans 1615A produce large amounts of MIP-2 irrespective of MOI. M. ulcerans 1615 induces the production of small but important amounts of MIP-2 at low MOIs. (D) Addition of mycolactone to M. ulcerans 1615A-infected macrophages diminishes but does not abrogate the production of MIP-2, even at high concentrations. Results are from one representative experiment out of two independent experiments.