Figure 4. Delayed LPS treatment of mice receiving antibiotics restores RegIIIγ levels and enhances luminal VRE killing.

a, Mice were treated with MNV for 4 days before the addition of LPS (1–4 µg µl⁻¹) to the drinking water. RegIIIγ mRNA induction was determined after 7 days LPS treatment and is expressed relative to untreated mice (n = 9–15 in each group; **P < 0.01, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction). b, RegIIIγ protein levels in the distal small intestine of mice treated as in a were determined (n = 5–8; **P < 0.01, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction). c, Immunohistochemical detection of RegIIIγ in paraffin-embedded distal small intestine sections in untreated mice, mice receiving MNV and mice receiving MNV plus LPS (magnification 400-fold, inset 1,000-fold). Representative samples from one of three mice is shown. d, VRE killing in ileal loops of mice treated as in a was determined and expressed as percentage of recovered VRE (n = 5–6 each group; *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction). Error bars denote s.e.m.