Fig. 1
Effect of HF westernized diet on Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice. a Study overview. C57BL/6 mice (n = 10) were fed with a low-fat diet (10% fat), chow (18% fat) and high-fat diet (45% fat) for 13 days, orally infected with 5 × 109 L. monocytogenes EGDem and infection determined at 72 h post-infection (day 16). Sampling points for faecal microbiota analysis during dietary modulation of the host and during infection are indicated. Animals were euthanized, and the total number of L. monocytogenes EGDem CFU per organ was determined by plating homogenized organs. The phase from D0 to D13 represents the influence of diet upon the host and microbiota whereas D13 to D16 represents a 3-day infection with L. monocytogenes. b Increased dietary fat increases host susceptibility to oral infection with L. monocytogenes EGDem. Listeria burden in the spleen, cecum and mesenteric lymph nodes of C57BL/6 mice fed with diets varying in percentage of fat content (n = 10, standard deviation from the mean, statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s multiple comparison test in relation to chow diet) **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. Error bars represent SEM