Figure 7. Gavage of Escherichia coli-interleukin-22-green fluorescent protein (IL-22-GFP+) increases survival of mice irradiated to 9.25 Gy. C57BL/6NTac mice were irradiated to 9.25 Gy total body irradiation (TBI). At 24 hours after irradiation, mice were gavaged with100 μl saline containing 109 Escherichia coli-interleukin IL-22-green fluorescent protein (IL-22-GFP+), or control Escherichia coli. Other mice were given a fecal microbiome transplant (FMT) of 109 bacteria from 30-day survivors of 9.25 Gy TBI, IL-22 protein dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline administered as an intraperitoneal injection or radiation mitigator JP4-039 dissolved in 30% (2-hydroxypropyl)-β- cyclodextrin and injected intramuscularly. Compared to control irradiated mice, administration of E.coli-IL-22 (p=0.0004), JP4-039 (p=0.0195), or IL-22 protein (p=0.0428) increased survival. FMT, and control E. coli did not increase survival (p=0.6876 and 0.8851, respectively).