FIG. 3.

Effect of complementation of the lptA⁺ gene in ΔlptA N. meningitidis on bacterial adhesion to HBMEC. (A) Western blotting for LptA protein. Bacterial extracts equivalent to an OD₆₀₀ of 0.05 were analyzed. Lane 1, HT1125 (wild type); lane 2, HT1222 (ΔlptA); lane 3, HT1277 (ΔlptA ggt::lptA⁺-cat); lane 4, HT1278 (ΔlptA ggt::cat). (B and C) Adhesion (B) and internalization (C) of the ΔlptA N. meningitidis mutant in which the lptA⁺ gene was ectopically complemented. The internalized bacteria were determined as the number of gentamicin-resistant bacteria. Mean CFU of adherent bacteria (B) or gentamicin-resistant bacteria (C) per 10⁴ cells of HBMEC in at least three experiments are shown, and error bars represent the standard errors of the means. *, P < 0.01; **, P < 0.05 (compared to the strain not complemented with the lptA⁺ gene).