FIG 5.

In vivo persistence competition assays. Groups of streptomycin-treated mice were orally dosed with a mixed inoculum consisting of the WBWlacZ strain and either the wild-type (A), ΔrpoN (B), ΔfliAP (C), ΔfliAL (D), or ΔfliAP ΔfliAL (E) strain. At the indicated intervals postinfection, fecal pellets were collected from mice, weighed, and homogenized in PBS. Samples were serially diluted and plated on LB agar containing 3% NaCl and X-Gal to determine the number of V. parahaemolyticus organisms per gram of fecal material. Data are pooled from two separate experiments and reported as log-transformed CFU/gram of feces (A to E) or as the competitive index (F), which is calculated as CI = ratio out_{(test strain/WBWlacZ)}/ratio in_{(test strain/WBWlacZ)}. Error bars indicate standard errors.