Figure 5.

IFN-γ specific monoclonal antibody treatment. Mice were infected by the intracranial route with 3 × 10⁴ CFU of S. pneumoniae TIGR4 and administered with a neutralizing anti-IFN-γ antibody (black) or with an isotype control antibody (white) at the time of the bacteria inoculum. To analyze the role of IFN-γ in pneumococcal meningitis, animals were monitored up to 4 days post infection. Data are from two independent experiments with 4 mice/group. (A) Kaplan-Meier curve of mouse survival. Results were expressed as percentage of survival over time. (B) Clinical score was evaluated using a scale for severity of disease, from 0 (normal) to 5 (moribund), and reported as mean value ± SEM. (C) Bacterial load estimation in brain of mice 48 h post infection. Mean values ± SEM are reported.