Fig. 7
PNPs@M-Ep167-193 immunization conferred effective protection in mice. A. The global disease scores of the mice immunized with PNPs@M-Ep167-193, Ep167-193, PNPs@M or PBS after challenge with a sublethal dose of PA XN-1 (n = 5). Scores were recorded every 12 h for 7 days. B. Changes in mouse body weights after their immunization with PNPs@M-Ep167-193, Ep167-193, PNPs@M or PBS and challenge with a sublethal dose of PA XN-1 (n = 5); weights were recorded every 24 h for 10 days. C. Bacterial loads in the lungs were determined 24 h after the challenge with a sublethal dose of PA XN-1 (n = 5). The bar represents the average and SE of the log CFU of PA XN-1. Multiple comparisons among the four groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. *P < 0.05. D. Quantitative measurement of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-12 in the lungs (n = 5). The data are shown as the mean ± SE. Multiple comparisons among the four groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. *P < 0.05. E. HE staining images of the lungs from immunized mice 24 h after infection with a sublethal dose of PA XN-1. Images were captured at 400 × magnification. F. Semiquantitative analysis of lung inflammation. The bars represent the inflammation scores of the images according to hemorrhage, edema, hyperemia and neutrophil infiltration. Multiple comparisons among the four groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. *P < 0.05