Preclinical and clinical evidence of the association of colibactin-producing Escherichia coli with anxiety and depression in colon cancer

Figure 5 Chronic colibactin-producing Escherichia coli infection is associated with anxiety-like behaviors in adenomatous polyposis coli^{multiple intestinal neoplasia/+} mice. A: Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract in wild-type (WT, n = 12) and adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc)^{multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min)/+} (n = 5) mice infected with the colibactin-producing Escherichia coli strain (11G5 strain) according to fecal colony form units at different time points; B and C: Anxiety-like behavior was assessed using an elevated plus maze test at 14 DPI. Entry frequency (B) and time spent in the open arms (C) by APC^Min/+ control (n = 4) and infected (n = 5) mice; D: Immobility time during the forced swimming test of APC^Min/+ control and infected mice at 35 DPI. The black circles represent WT infected mice, the hollow purple circles represent APC^Min/+ uninfected mice, and the purple circles represent APC^Min/+ infected mice. Statistical analysis: Student’s t test: ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01. CFU: Colony form unit; APC: Adenomatous polyposis coli; Min: Multiple intestinal neoplasia; WT: Wild-type.