Figure 5

Mouse model of acute lung infection by C F and non-CF S. maltophilia strains. DBA/2 mice (n = 8, for each strain) were exposed on day 0 to aerosolized CF (Sm111 and Sm122 strains, from respiratory specimens) or non-CF (Sm170 and Sm174 strains, from respiratory specimens; Sm46 and Sm188 strains, from blood) S. maltophilia in PBS. Control mice were exposed to aerosolized PBS only. A. Weight monitoring during S. maltophilia lung infection. Results are expressed as percentage of weight loss with respect to control mice (100%). The horizontal line shows a 10% weight loss with regard to mean body weight of control mice. Differences in weight reduction were all significant (p < 0.01, Fisher's exact test) compared to control mice, except for Sm111 exposed mice at day 1 post-exposure (p.e.). B. S. maltophilia survival in mouse lungs 3 days p.e.. For each exposure, four mice each were included for determination of bacterial deposition to the lungs at 1 h and 3 days p.e.. Results are expressed as mean + SD. C. Cytokine levels measured on day 3 p.e. in lung homogenates. Results were normalized to the lung wet weight (pg/mg) and expressed as box and whiskers: the box extends from the 25^th percentile to 75^th percentile, with a line at the median (50^th percentile); the whiskers indicate the lowest and the highest value. * p < 0.05 or ** p < 0.01, Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's multiple comparison post-test.