Figure 3

Effect of immunotherapy on persisters in terms of Log ₁₀ CFUs of Mtb at two weeks post treatment in the lungs and spleen of Mtb infected animals. Two weeks post challenge with Mtb, mice were treated with ATD for 4 weeks and then 4 doses of rAg85B weekly. Two weeks post treatment lungs and spleen from M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv infected animals were isolated and cultured on Middlebrook 7H11 agar plates. Results are expressed as mean log₁₀ CFUs ± standard deviation of 5 animals per group tested individually. Statistical analysis of the results was carried out by Student's t test. ***p< 0.001, compared to animals that were left untreated during the treatment period of eight weeks. #p< 0.05, compared to animals receiving ATD for four weeks. (ATD: Antituberculous Drugs; IT: Immunotherapy; O/W: Once Weekly)