FIG. 3.

Temporal expression of cytokine mRNA and growth of A. fumigatus in lungs of immunocompetent Crl:CF-1 mice. Mice were infected with A. fumigatus as described in Materials and Methods. At specific times p.i., mice were euthanatized and intrapulmonary growth of A. fumigatus was determined (as described for Fig. 1). Alternatively, the lungs were excised and total RNA was extracted. Transcript levels were quantified by real-time RT-PCR for TNF-α, IL-12p40, IL-12p35, and IFN-γ. Results of a representative experiment (n = 2) are shown and reflect the mean ± standard error of the mean of five animals per time point. Symbol: ∗, significantly greater than uninfected mice, P < 0.05.