FIG 1.

GIAM-1 infection is highly attenuated in the murine genital tract. Female mice were treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate and challenged vaginally with 5 × 10⁴ IFU of either GIAM-1 or WT Cm. Infection was monitored by collecting vaginal-cervical swabs at the indicated time points and enumerating IFU (A). IFU shedding was greatly reduced in the GIAM-1-challenged mice compared to WT-infected mice throughout the course of infection (P < 0.0001, days 3, 7, 10, and 14; P > 0.05, days 21 and 28). GIAM-1 infection also did not result in genital tract pathology at 72 days postinfection: 0 of 8 (0%) GIAM-1-infected mice developed hydrosalpinx, whereas 5 of 7 (71%) WT Cm-infected mice were hydrosalpinx positive. Even though GIAM-1 was highly attenuated for genital infection, serum antibody responses were similar in mice challenged with WT Cm or GIAM-1 at day 49 postinfection (P > 0.05) (B). Dashed horizontal line represents the starting dilution for serological analysis (1/16).