TABLE 2.

Role of FliZ during infection

Infection route	Inoculum (CFU)	Genotype of straina:		Median CIb	P valuec	No. of mice
		A	B
i.p.d	103	ΔfliZ	WT	1.08	NS	9
Orale	107	ΔfliZ	WT	0.016	<0.005	11
	109	ΔfliZ Δspi1	Δspi1	0.2	<0.005	16

^aThe strains used were JS135, JS990, JS481, and JS991.

^bThe competitive index (CI) was calculated as described in Materials and Methods.

^cThe Student t test was used to compare the CIs to the inocula. NS, not significant.

^dBacteria were recovered from the spleen in the case of intraperitoneal (i.p.) competition assays.

^eBacteria were recovered from the distal portion of the small intestine in oral competition assays.