Figure 2.

MsmK contributes to SS2 survival in mouse blood in vivo and in vitro. (a) In vivo survival assays. At each defined timepoint, blood samples of five mice were collected and viable bacteria were counted. SC‐19 and ΔmsmK were distinguished by adding erythromycin to TSA plates. Solid lines correspond to the means of data related to SC‐19. Dotted lines correspond to the means of data related to ΔmsmK. (b) Survival factors of SC‐19, ΔmsmK, and CΔmsmK in culture medium and mouse whole blood. Colony‐forming unit (CFU) was determined at 0 and 2 hr of incubation on a rotator at 37°C. CFU at 0 hr was designated as 1. Survival factor was calculated as the ratio of the data at 2 hr to the data at 0 hr. Strains grown in culture medium were regarded as positive control. Data are presented as means ± SEM