Figure 7.

Cnm contributes to bacterial endocardium adherence in vivo. Rabbits (n=3) were co-inoculated with Cnm-expressing and control L. lactis strains 1 hour or 2 days after insertion of an intracardiac catheter as indicated and then sacrificed 2 hours later. Bacteria were recovered from endocardial surfaces (End.), and in the 2-day samples, from adjacent vegetations (Veg.). CI values (for L. lactis Cnm⁺ over L. lactis Cnm⁻) are indicated for each sample, with geometrical mean CIs indicated by a horizontal line. Means significantly different from 1.0 (dashed line) are indicated: *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001. Like symbols in the 2-day experiment indicate samples recovered from the same animal. Red circle, sample from which one of the 2 strains was not recovered (L. lactis Cnm⁻); the limit of detection was used for the calculation.