FIG 5.

Transcriptional activities of T2S and its cargo proteins are differentially regulated under conditions inducing and repressing virulence gene expression. The expression of eps-lux, vesA-lux, vesB-lux, vesC-lux, and tarp-lux was assessed in classical V. cholerae O395 under conditions either inducing (LB, pH 6.5; 30°C) or inhibiting (LB, pH 8.5; 37°C) virulence gene expression. The highest promoter activity recorded for a particular growth condition was normalized by the OD₆₀₀ of the bacterial culture. The relative fold change in gene expression was calculated by dividing the normalized promoter-lux activity under virulence gene-inducing conditions by its corresponding activity under virulence gene-inhibiting conditions. Each bar represents the mean and SEM obtained from at least four independent experiments.