Figure 6.

Targeted mutation of residues involved in integrin binding by P66 delays dissemination of B orrelia burgdorferi following intravenous inoculation. C3H/HeN mice were inoculated retro‐orbitally with a range of doses (10³–10⁷ per mouse) of B31‐A3 (wild‐type), Δp66, p66^cc, BD 205 A , D 207 A or BD el202–208 bacteria. Tissues were harvested 2 weeks (A) or 4 weeks (B) post‐inoculation and total DNA was purified and analysed by qPCR with primers to detect B orrelia genomes or mouse genomes. Bacterial burdens from mice inoculated with 10⁷ bacteria are shown. Mean bacterial load is indicated with error bars representing standard deviation. Statistical analyses were performed using a one‐way ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn's multiple comparison post‐test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. n = 5 mice per group.