Fig 2. Circulating neutrophil counts increase rapidly during invasive infection, while platelet counts decrease progressively over time.

At 0, 5, 12, and 18 hours post infection with S. pyogenes the mice were sacrificed and a blood sample was taken by cardiac puncture. Flow cytometry of citrated blood was used to determine neutrophil (A) and platelet counts (B) in each animal. Horizontal line represents median, p-value calculated using a Mann-Whitney U test.