Fig 2. Aortic lesions were increased in Ldlr^−/− mice infected with C. muridarum.

Ldlr^−/− mice (N=10) were infected with 3 × 10⁵ IFU vaginally and were fed high fat/high cholesterol diet starting one week after infection (as shown in Figure 1A). Mice were sacrificed 8-weeks post infection. Aortic sinus (N=5) was stained using oil red O to visualize plaques. Aortic sinus (A) from a representative mouse from each group is shown and average lesion area (B) plotted. En face analysis of descending aorta from a representative mouse from each group is shown (C). Uninfected Ldlr^−/− mice fed a high-fat/high cholesterol diet was used as control. Significance determined by ‘t’ test.