FIGURE 6.

Capsule degradation by CapD, CP, and F24H. Each protein was tested for capsule degradation activity when incubated in normal mouse serum. The proteins were serially diluted from 12.5 down to 0.78 μg/ml in a solution of 50% 1× PBS and 50% normal mouse serum. After titration, the capsule at a total concentration of 500 μg (in water) was added to each sample. Lane 1, negative control, capsule only; lanes 2–6, capsule with 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.56, and 0.78 μg/ml F24H; lanes 7–11, capsule with 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.56, and 0.78 μg/ml CapD; lanes 12–16, capsule with 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.56, and 0.78 μg/ml CP; lane 17, negative control, capsule only. As the capsule is degraded, it will migrate farther down the gel.