GF mice are more susceptible to ocular <i>P</i>. <i>aeruginosa</i>–induced keratitis compared to SPF mice.

<p>A. <i>P</i>. <i>aeruginosa</i> 6294 CFU/cornea (left) and pathology scores (right) 24 h following infection. Groups of GF (n = 11) and SPF SW (n = 14) mice were infected with 1×10⁷ CFU <i>P</i>. <i>aeruginosa</i> per eye. Data were pooled from two independent experiments performed under comparable conditions. p-values were generated using Student’s <i>t</i>-test. B. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of sections derived from GF and SPF SW mice. Images are taken at 10x magnification to illustrate pathological alterations during infection. Data are representative images taken from the infected eyes of GF mice (n = 4) and SPF (n = 4) mice. The quantification of histopathological changes confirmed increased pathology in GF corneas when compared to SPF. p-values by Mann-Whitney test.