Figure 1.

Subcutaneous footpad infection of Bacillus anthracis induces significant paw swelling and body weight gain. (A–C) C57BL/6 mice received subcutaneous footpad injection of Vehicle (PBS) (n=7) or 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷ or 1×10⁸ CFUs of (B) anthracis Sterne (n=7-8). Survival, thickness of the ipsilateral paw and body weight were measured daily. (D, E) Fluid weight in internal organs, normalized to the respective dry weights (D) or in absolute values (E), following subcutaneous infection with Vehicle (PBS) (n=4) or 1×10⁷ CFU of B. anthracis Sterne (n=4). Statistical analysis: (A, F) Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test, ****p < 0.0001. (B, C) Two-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post-test. Vehicle vs. 1×10⁶ CFUs, ⁺p < 0.05, *p < 0.05, ****p < 0.0001. Vehicle vs. 1×10⁷ CFUs, ⁺⁺⁺⁺p < 0.0001. Vehicle vs. 1×10⁸ CFUs, ^####p < 0.0001. (D, E) Two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s post-test. *p < 0.05, ****p < 0.0001.