Expression of NADPH Oxidase-Dependent Resistance to Listeriosis in Mice Occurs during the First 6 to 12 Hours of Liver Infection

Wild-type mice inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes intravenously were capable of reducing the bacterial load in their livers by 90% within 6 h. In contrast, mice with deletions of the gene for NADPH oxidase were incapable of expressing this early oxygen-dependent anti-Listeria defense and consequently showed higher levels of liver infection at later times.