FIG 3.
Rabbits infected with the REPEC ΔespZ strain are clinically indistinguishable from mock-infected animals. Data shown are representative of data from a total of three independent animal studies, each performed with a minimum of eight animals per group on day 1. (A) Clinical sign scores of the animals over 7 days of infection with the parent WT strain, the ΔespZ mutant, and the ΔespZ mutant cis-complemented with REPEC espZ (espZ/espZR) or EPEC espZ (espZ/espZE). Scores are based on four parameters, as detailed in Table S1 in the supplemental material (with “0” referring to no clinical signs), and are for an average of at least three animals per group per time point. The number of animals decreased during the course of the study due to death/euthanasia; therefore, standard statistical analyses were not performed. (B) Weight change(s) of animals over the course of 7 days of infection with the parent WT strain, the ΔespZ mutant, and the ΔespZ mutant cis-complemented with REPEC espZ (espZ/espZR) or EPEC espZ (espZ/espZE).