Wild-Type and ΔBA Strains Display Different Patterns of Tissue Colonization

<p>Groups of seven mice per strain were infected via the orogastric route with 2 × 10⁹ cells and sacrificed on day 4 of infection. Harvested tissues were processed for CFU determination as described in Materials and Methods. Each symbol represents the CFU contained in the indicated tissue sample from one mouse. Data were analyzed by Student <i>t-</i>test in order to determine statistical significance of CFU counts in Peyer's Patches (<i>p</i> < 0.051), MLN (<i>p</i> < 0.271), and spleen (<i>p</i> < 0.044). The <i>smpB-ssrA</i> mutant was found to be able to reach extra-intestinal sites but unable to proliferate efficiently within the MLN and spleen.