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. 2015 Jul 8;83(8):3043–3060. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00315-15

FIG 1.

FIG 1

Spirochetes acquired by naive nymphs are in an RpoS-off state. (A) Spirochete burdens in larvae and acquiring nymphs (Acq-Nym) fed on C3H/HeJ mice infected with wild-type strain 297 (CE162) compared to those in infected transmitting nymphs (Trans-Nym) fed on a naive mouse. Genome copy numbers were assessed by qPCR using a TaqMan-based assay for flaB. Values represent the average number of flaB copies per tick ± SEM from at least three biologically independent experiments. (B) Transcript levels for prototypical RpoS-upregulated (ospC and dbpA) and -repressed (ospA, bb0240 [glpF], bba74, and bba62) genes in replete larvae and acquiring and transmitting nymphs at 72 h postplacement compared to those in unfed (Flat) nymphs. Values represent the average copy number ± SEM normalized per 100 copies of flaB. Statistical significance (P ≤ 0.05) was determined using an unpaired t test. *, P ≤ 0.0001.