Figure 2
Impact of neutrophils on the model. In vivo growth dynamics of seven strains of PNSSP using an optimized inoculum in immune competent mice (normal neutrophil count). The animals exhibited no clinical signs of disease and cleared the pneumococci completely, indicating that neutropenia is a necessary requirement for a successful infection model. The open symbols represent the mean (at least three mice per time-point) and the error bars the standard deviation. The net bacterial growth between the 14 h and 38 h (G14-38h) was included into the legend box for each strain.