The Effect of Complement Depletion on Competition between Species during Co-Colonization

<p>The density of <i>H. influenzae</i> strain <i>Hi</i>636 <i>(Hi)</i> and <i>S. pneumoniae</i> strain <i>Sp</i>1121 <i>(Sp)</i> in upper respiratory tract lavage was determined at 24 h after intranasal inoculation in C3H/HeOuJ mice pretreated with cobra venom factor (CoVF) to deplete complement or PBS control. Box-and-whiskers plot indicates high and low values, median, and interquartile ranges; <i>n ≥</i> 5 in each group. Co-inoculated species shown in parentheses. The lower limit of detection for bacteria in lavage culture was 10² CFU/ml.