FIG 8.

Effect of delayed neutrophil depletion on bacterial clearance during secondary C. muridarum infection. At 66 days after primary infection, C57BL/6 mice depleted of CD4⁺ T cells and neutrophils were rechallenged with C. muridarum. Beginning 6 days prior to rechallenge, anti-CD4 depletion was initiated in all mice. Anti-Ly6G treatment was initiated either 2 days prior to rechallenge (day −2 start) (n = 14) or on day 3 (day 3 start) (n = 15) following rechallenge. Chlamydial shedding (in IFU) was quantified from cervicovaginal swabs collected throughout secondary infection. The vertical dashed line represents the last dose of anti-CD4 and anti-Ly6G at days 20 and 21, respectively. Data are presented as mean IFU. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.