FIG 2.

Mean relative light unit (RLU) counts from infected mouse footpads in response to treatment with escalating doses of rifamycins. Mice were infected with an autoluminescent strain of M. ulcerans that emits light when metabolically active. The mean per group RLU values are displayed, compared with day 0 when the mean (±SD) RLU was 35.09 (±6.89). As observed in previous experiments, RLU counts stagnate at 7- to 9-weeks postinfection (i.e., here, 3 weeks of treatment) when a static bacterial growth phase is reached, as seen in untreated mice. Treatment with rifamycins radically reduced RLU counts compared with untreated and CLR-only-treated mice. RIF, rifampin; STR, streptomycin; CLR, clarithromycin; RPT, rifapentine.