|
Time after NTHi inoculation
|
C57BL/6 WT culture positive plates
|
C57BL/6 WT mean NTHi DS
|
C57BL/6 WT CFU/mL
|
CD44 −/− culture positive plates
|
CD44 −/− mean NTHi DS
|
CD44 −/− CFU/mL
|
|---|
|
Day 1
|
6/6 (100%)
|
3.20
|
6 × 104
|
4/6 (67%)
|
1.70
|
6 × 104
|
|
Day 2
|
3/6 (50%)
|
1.30
|
1 × 104
|
4/6 (67%)
|
1.80
|
2 × 105
|
|
Day 3
|
1/6 (17%)
|
0.50
|
1 × 103
|
2/6 (33%)
|
1.30
|
2 × 105
|
|
Day 7
|
0/8 (0%)
|
0.00
|
0
|
1/8 (13%)
|
0.50
|
1 × 105
|
|
Day 10
|
0/6 (0%)
|
0.00
|
0
|
1/6 (17%)
|
0.70
|
8 × 104
|
- Bacterial colonization of chocolate-agar plates was evaluated using quantitatively and semi-quantitative methods to generate an NTHi detection score (DS): 0 indicated no colony-forming unit (CFU) on the plate; 1 indicated CFUs in one quadrant; 2 indicated CFUs in two quadrants; 3 indicated CFUs in three quadrants; and 4 indicated CFUs in all four quadrants on the plate. The colonies on the 4 quadrants were also counted and multiplied by 103 to provide a CFU count per mL. At least 6 ears (n ≥ 3 mice) were cultured for each time points of WT and CD44−/− mice. NTHi clearance by CD44 KO animals was significantly worse than for C57/BL6 controls by ANOVA (p = 0.0114)
