Fig 6. Maximum fold target repression during the course of infection.

The data validates IPTG-inducible in-vivo AS-repression of Mtb targets. The net target transcript levels, as evaluated by RTPCR of Mtb from lung homogenates; showed a variable -fold down regulation (13- to 103-fold), during the entire course of in-vivo studies. The maximum fold repression of targets equated that the in-vivo transcript translation into cidality is target-vulnerability-dependent. Target rpoB translated into maximum cidality of 3.9 log₁₀ cfu reduction with mere 13-fold transcript level repression; whereas, in the case of ppk, only 1.3 log₁₀ cfu reduction could be achieved in-vivo despite a maximum of 103-fold transcript repression (as in Table C in S1 File).