FIG 4.
Change in the proportion of bound and motile transformant rickettsiae over time. Asterisks indicate significant differences between the transformants at the time points marked. (A) At 2 h p.i. the greatest difference between the binding of transformants was observed, as three times more R. belliiRmRickA adhered to the host cells than R. belliiMCS. Rickettsiae were inoculated at a rate of 200 bacteria per Vero cell. (B) A significant difference in the proportion of motile bacteria was also present at 2 h p.i., corresponding to the disparity in binding observed at that time point. The proportion of motile rickettsiae increased through time until, beginning at 16 h p.i., the proportion of motile R. belliiMCS was substantially higher than the proportion of motile R. belliiRmRickA. Error bars show standard errors.