Figure 1.
Evaluation of porcine mucosa explants after cultivation by means of light microscopy.
Sections of 4 µm thickness were stained by immunohistochemistry to evaluate the apoptosis of cells. TUNEL-positive cells in the epithelium are indicated with white arrows (panel A). Panel B shows the thickness of the epithelium after staining with haematoxylin-eosin (indicated with a white arrow).
Figure 2.
Average epithelial thickness of the porcine mucosa explants at different time points.
Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (error bars) of five independent experiment.
Table 1.
Percentage of apoptotic cells as a parameter for the effect of cultivation.
Figure 3.
Scanning electron micrographs of porcine nasal epithelium.
Epithelial cells at 0 h (A) and after 72 h (B) of ex vivo cultivation.
Figure 4.
MRSA colonization of the porcine mucosa explants.
Log scale presence of MRSA isolates S0462 (▾), S0385-1 (▴) and S0385-2 (▪) on the porcine nasal mucosa explants. Data are presented is the mean CFU ± standard deviation (error bars) of five different pig experiments.
Figure 5.
Bacterial localization on the porcine nose mucosa.
Immunohistochemistry microscopy (panel A) of the porcine mucosa explants was used to determine the bacterial localization of MRSA S0462, S0385-1 and S0385-2 on explants at 0 and 180 min of colonization. Panel B shows the scanning electron micrographs of the surface of the porcine mucosa explants after 180 min colonization. Bacteria are indicated with arrows.