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Fig. 8
The zebrafish microbiota provides a barrier to E. coli colonization. (A) Following exposure of conventionalized (conv) or gnotobiotic zebrafish larvae to foodborne EHEC (108 CFU/ml) for 2 h, bacterial burden was determined by dilution plating on EHEC selective agar. Individual data points, means (n = 20 for each condition), and SD are shown. Statistical significance was determined using Student’s t test (****, P < 0.0001). (B) Examples of larval homogenates derived from conventionalized fish following EHEC infection, plated on EHEC selective CHROMagar. Mauve, blue, and white colonies correspond to EHEC, other coliforms, and Proteus sp., respectively. (C) Colonization of conventionalized zebrafish with EHEC::mCherry following 2 (Ci), 8 (Cii), 16 (Ciii), and 24 h (Civ) of infection.