FIG 3.
Impaired transepithelial invasion of the tonB123 triple mutant. V. vulnificus (4.0 × 106 CFU/400 μl) was inoculated into ligated ileal loops of mice under anesthesia. (A) After the indicated times, blood samples were acquired from infected mice by cardiac puncture. Viable cells were counted by plating on 2.5% NaCl HI agar plates. (B) The remaining V. vulnificus cells in ligated ileal loops were also counted by plating on TCBS agar plates. The data are averages and SEM for at least three mice, and the experiment was repeated three times. Statistical analysis was carried out using Student's t test (*, P < 0.05, and **, P < 0.01, compared to the wild-type strain).