Figure 2.

Edema factor mediates B. anthracis-induced lethality, paw swelling and body weight gain. (A–C) C57BL/6 mice received subcutaneous footpad injection of Vehicle (PBS) (n=8), wild-type B. anthracis Sterne (1×10⁷ CFUs; n=8), or an isogenic mutant lacking EF (ΔEF, 1×10⁷ CFUs; n=8). Survival, thickness of the ipsilateral paw and body weight were measured daily. Statistical analysis: (A) Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test, ****p < 0.0001. (B, C) Two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-test. Vehicle vs. WT, ****p < 0.0001; WT vs. ∆EF, ⁺⁺⁺⁺p < 0.0001; Vehicle vs. ∆EF, ^####p < 0.0001.