FIG. 2.

OspB directly binds to the I. scapularis gut. The direct binding of FITC-labeled OspB to the intact unfixed tick salivary gland was detected by confocal microscopy. FITC-labeled ErpT and FITC-labeled BSA were used as controls. After probing of the tick gut with FITC-labeled protein (green), the tissues were stained with propidium iodide to localize the nuclei of the gut cells (red). The FITC and propidium iodide images were examined at ×630 magnification and are presented as a single image for clarity.