Fig. 2

Fecal bacterial loads in C. jejuni strain 81–176 infected and/or VSL#3 associated secondary abiotic mice. Secondary abiotic mice were generated by broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment and perorally re-associated with the probiotic compound VSL#3 (white symbols) on day (d) 0, C. jejuni strain 81-176 (Cj; black symbols) on day 0, VSL#3 (day 0) and C. jejuni strain 81–176 (day 5) or C. jejuni strain 81–176 (day 0) and VSL#3 (day 5) as described in “Methods”. Bacterial colonization densities were assessed in fecal samples (CFU/g, colony forming units per gram) at day 21 upon initial re-association as indicated by culture. Medians (black bars) and level of significance (p value) determined by Mann–Whitney U test are indicated. Numbers of analyzed mice are given in parentheses. Data were pooled from three independent experiments. N.d. not determined