mRNA expression of four potentially membranolytic genes of Rickettsia prowazekii in Vero cell culture at 30 min postinfection. (A) RT-PCR using primers specific for tlyA, pat1, tlyC, and pld. (B) PCRs using R. prowazekii DNA demonstrated the effectiveness of the primers. Lane 1, negative control (tlyA primers with water as the template); lane 2, primers specific for tlyA; lane 3, primers specific for pat1; lane 4, primers specific for tlyC; lane 5, primers specific for pld.