InlA^m enhances spread to the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen.

<p>Female BALB mice were co-infected at night with a 1∶1 mixture of <i>Lm</i> InlA^m and either wild type (wt) <i>Lm</i> EGDe or an <i>inlA</i> deletion mutant (Δ<i>inlA</i>) for a total inoculum of 5–7×10⁸ CFU and the total number of each <i>Listeria</i> strain found in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), spleen, liver, and gall bladder was determined. Pooled data from at least two separate experiments are shown. In panel A, the data are plotted as competitive indices (CI) to show the ratio of either wt/InlA^m or Δ<i>inlA</i>/InlA^m recovered from each individual mouse at 60 hpi. The geometric mean for each group was compared to the theoretical value of 1.0 and the fold difference is shown in parentheses above. The actual number of CFU recovered in each mouse after wt (triangles) plus InlA^m (squares) co-infection or Δ<i>inlA</i> (circles) plus InlA^m are shown in panels B & C, respectively. Horizontal bars indicate mean values for each group; statistical significance was assessed by student's t test. The limit of detection in each tissue is marked by a dashed line.