Figure 1

α2,6-linked sialic acid recognition does not affect the development of pneumococcal OM. A. Titres of S. pneumoniae EF3030^lux in the middle ears of mice six-days after i.n. infection with wild-type or horse-serum resistant (HS^R) IAV strains. Bacterial counts are represented as the average titre derived from the left and right ear of each mouse. Data is pooled from a minimum of two independent experiments. Statistical significance was determined using a Mann–Whitney U-Test between the relevant wild-type or HS^R strain. Dashed line indicates the detection limit of the assay. B. Titres of IAV in the middle ears of mice six-days after i.n. infection with wild-type or horse-serum resistant (HS^R) IAV strains. Viral tires are represented as the average titre derived from the left and right ear of each mouse. Data is pooled from a minimum of two independent experiments. Statistical significance was determined using a One-Way ANOVA with a Bonferroni post-correction and is denoted by an asterisk (p < 0.05). Dashed line indicates the detection limit of the assay. C. Sialic acid expression in the murine middle ear. Sections were labeled with Maackia amurensis agglutinin (MAA; α2,3-linked sialic acid) or Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA; α2,6-linked sialic acid) with or without pre-treatment with a sialidase. Positive staining is shown by an arrow. MEE: Middle Ear Epithelium; MEC: Middle Ear Cavity.