FIG. 3.

Transcription of cytokines in bovine macrophages infected with wild or mutant Map strains. Total RNA was extracted from macrophages after 6 and 24 h infection, and the relative quantification of cytokine transcription was measured by qRT-PCR. The relative quantification of gene transcription was calculated using uninfected macrophages (nil control) as calibrator by 2^-(ΔΔCt) method. Two housekeeping genes (β-actin and GAPDH) were used as controls. Data are shown as the mean of two independent duplicated assays. Error bar indicates standard error. *, significant difference compared to the cytokine transcription in nil control (p < 0.05).