Figure 5.
Functional BicA is required for full pathogenesis of Bpm in acute and chronic gastrointestinal mouse models of melioidosis infection. Animals (n = 8/group) were infected via gavage with a high- (A – C. acute) or low- (D – F. chronic) dose equivalents of 2.5 LD50 (~7.5 × 106 CFU/mouse) or 1 LD50 (2.5 × 106 CFU/mouse), respectively, of Bpm WT, ΔbicA or ΔbicA::bicA. A and D. Weight changes of the infected animals were evaluated for 21 or 35 days, respectively. B and E. Survival curves of animals infected with each strain in either the acute or chronic infection models. C and F. Bacterial loads in gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small intestine, colon, and cecum), liver and spleen of the acute and chronic studies were determined for CFU per tissue. Error bars of the mean represent the average ± standard error. ** p < .001, *** p < .0001, n.s. non-significance.