Figure 7. B. melitensis infection induces tail inflammation in mice lacking IFN-γ.

C57BL/6 mice were infected i.p. with 5 × 10⁴ CFUs of B. melitensis 16M. One group of mice was neutralized of their IFN-γ by mAb treatments versus control mice given rat IgG. (A) Images depict Day 56 postinfection, showing that infected mice given rat IgG did not develop tail inflammation, whereas in contrast, mice depleted of IFN-γ developed gross swelling of the tail. (B) Tail sections (at Day 56 postinfection) were stained with H&E and visualized at 40× magnification. In contrast to IgG-treated mice, tails from mice depleted of IFN-γ displayed massive inflammation consisting of neutrophils, fibrin, and mononuclear cells, along with destruction of the bone.