Lack of visualization of bacteria in placental trophoblast explants after L. monocytogenes infection. (A) Infection of chorionic villi with mCherry-expressing L. monocytogenes (10⁴ CFU/ml; right panel) or mock-infected controls (left panel). DAPI-stained nuclei are shown in blue and actin in green. Scale bar is 10 µm. (B and C) TNF-α (B) and RANTES (C) levels as determined by Luminex assays in placental villi infected with L. monocytogenes (10⁴ CFU/ml) for 24 h (or uninfected controls [CON]) treated without (Mock) or with ILG or MCC950 (MCC). Data are from two unique placental preparations, with three unique villi used per placenta. Significance was determined with the Kruskal-Wallis test. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001. Symbols represent CM from individual villi from unique placental preparations.