FIG. 3.

Competitiveness of AKD806 (ΔtorECA ΔtorYZ ΔdmsABC) during symbiotic colonization. RCI values for squid inoculated with a 1:1 ratio of AKD806 to the wild type, measured 48 h after the exposure of squid hatchlings to the bacterial strains. Each filled circle represents the RCI value calculated from the ratio of strains in an individual animal. The RCI value equals the ratio of AKD806 to ES114 in the host divided by the ratio of these strains in the inoculum, with a value equal to 1 indicating that the strains compete equally well during host colonization. Three independent experiments were performed, and the data were combined for a total of 43 animals. The square represents the average RCI value for the combined experiments, with error bars representing the 95% confidence interval.