Mice used in this study were maintained in a Specific Pathogen Free environment at the National Institutes of Health at Bethesda (MD, USA). Mice were maintained on a 12 hr light/dark cycle given NIH-13 blend lab chow and hypo chlorinated water ad libtium throughout the duration of the study. All experiments and animal maintenance procedures were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the National Cancer Institute under protocol LMCB001 and its modifications.
