Murine Campylobacter jejuni Infection Model

For infection, a stock solution of C. jejuni 81–176 strain that had been stored at −80°C was thawed, aliquots streaked onto karmali agar (Oxoid, Wesel, Germany) and incubated in a microaerophilic atmosphere at 37°C for 48 h. Immediately before peroral infection of mice, bacteria were harvested in sterile PBS to a final inoculum of 10⁹ bacterial cells.
Female and male hma mice (4 months of age) were perorally infected by gavage (in a total volume of 0.3 mL PBS) on 2 consecutive days starting on day (d) 0 and d1 (Figure 1). C. jejuni loads were monitored in fecal samples over time post-infection as reported previously (15 (link), 25 (link)). In brief, serial dilutions of fecal samples were dissolved in sterile PBS, streaked onto karmali agar and quantitatively assessed 48 h following incubation in a microaerophilic atmosphere at 37°C. The detection limit of viable pathogens was ≈100 CFU per g.