Figure 3.

MEM promoted NETs formation and could block E44 dissemination in mouse model. Mice (6 per group) were intraperitoneally injected with 2 × 10⁷ E44 or with 2 × 10⁷ E44 along with different concentrations of MEM (5–20 mg/kg of body weight). After infection with E44 for 24 h, mice were anesthetized and blood, liver, lung, and spleen tissue was collected. The serum used to detect the cell free DNA using Picogreen and NE using a Mouse PMN Elastase ELISA kit. For NE detection, the serum was diluted 1:2. The blood was diluted from 1:10 to 1:10⁸ and cultured on BHI agar plates containing rifampicin. Liver, lung, and spleen tissue was weighed, triturated, diluted, and cultured on BHI agar plates containing rifampicin. (A) Cell free DNA in serum; (B) NE concentration in serum; (C) The bacterial levels in blood of mice; (D) The bacterial levels in liver tissue of mice; (E) The bacterial levels in lung tissue of mice; (F) The bacterial levels in spleen tissue of mice. The mice were treated as described in Materials and Methods, and then the blood, liver, lung, and spleen tissues were collected. Blood samples were diluted and cultured on the BHI agar plates. The liver, lung, and spleen tissues were weighted and triturated, then diluted and cultured on the BHI agar plates. All values represent the means of determinations. Bacteria levels in blood are expressed as log CFU/ml, and in tissues are expressed as log CFU/g. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.