Figure 2

Comparison of Candida species virulence in a murine model of gut-disseminated invasive candidiasis. (a) Groups of mice (n = 7/group) were infected intragastrically with one of six Candida species on day 0 of the experiment and survival was monitored for 21 d post-infection. Kaplan–Meier curves were created and compared using the log-rank (Mantel–Cox) test. P = 0.0002 for C. albicans vs. C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, and C. guilliermondii. P = 0.0003 for C. tropicalis vs. C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, and C. guilliermondii. (b) Colonization in the intestinal tract is expressed as the log₁₀ colony forming units (CFU)/mg of stool. Stool specimens were collected from groups of mice (n = 8/group) on the indicated days post-infection. The numbers of recovered CFU from the stools of individual mice are indicated in the plots. The geometric means are shown by the bars. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s multiple comparison post-test. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences (***P < 0.001; **P < 0.01; *P < 0.05). (c) The development of disseminated candidiasis was evaluated as the log₁₀ CFU/organ in the liver and kidneys. The livers and bilateral kidneys were removed from groups of mice (n = 8/group) on the indicated days post-infection. The numbers of recovered CFU from the livers and kidneys are indicated in the plots for individual mice. The geometric means are shown as bars. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s multiple comparison post-test. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences (****P < 0.0001; **P < 0.01; *P < 0.05). These animal experiments were conducted on two separate occasions to ensure reproducibility. Representative data of two independent experiments are shown.