Figure 4. Survival of WT and ΔpmrF S. Typhimurium in BALB/c and CRAMP KO mice.

BALB/c (WT) and background-matched CRAMP KO mice were infected via the oral route with a 1∶1 mixture of WT S. Typhimurium and ΔpmrF bacteria containing 10⁸ CFU of each strain. Bacteria were recovered from the lumen contents, Peyer’s patches, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and spleen from 24 BALB/c and 22 CRAMP KO mice 96 hrs. p.i. Graphed values represent the competitive index (CI) ratio (output ratio/input ratio) of ΔpmrF/WT bacteria recovered from each mouse organ (Salmonella was not recovered from each organ). Each value graphed as the same shape represents the CI ratio calculated from the specified organ of one WT or CRAMP KO mouse. There are no significant differences between any of the observed average CI ratios (p≥0.05).