Analysis of O-PS expression. A, O-PS polymerization in F. tularensis (Ft.) LVS and F. tularensis LVS wzy mutant strain. Immunoblot analysis of whole cell lysates from F. tularensis LVS and F. tularensis LVS wzy mutant on 4–20% gradient gels (10 μl/lane), probed with either mouse monoclonal Ab ab2033 to F. tularensis O-antigen (A, a) or α-F. tularensis serum (rabbit polyclonal antibody to F. tularensis LVS) (A, b). B, complementation of wzy mutant strain by wzy of F. tularensis or S. flexneri 2α. All lanes show bacterial lysates from the indicated strain. C, the result of negative contrast immunoelectron microscopy of F. tularensis LVS (a), wbtA mutant (b), and wzy mutant (c). Immunogold-labeled LPSs are shown as black dots (see arrowheads).