Figure 4.

Fimbriae aggregation and TNF-α release from HBEP cells infected with the different morphologies of ESBL019. Type-1 fimbriae functionality was assessed by yeast agglutination without (A) or with ESBL019 Coliform (B), ESBL019 Transition (C), ESBL019 Filamented (D) and ESBL019 Reverted (E) using light microscopy. P-fimbriae functionality was assessed by P-positive human erythrocyte agglutination without (F) or with ESBL019 Coliform (G), ESBL019 Transition (H), ESBL019 Filamented (I), and ESBL019 Reverted (J) using light microscopy. Scale bare: 200 μm. TNF-α release from HBEP cells stimulated with ESBL019 Coliform, ESBL019 Transition, ESBL019 Filamented and ESBL019 Reverted (MOI10) for 4 h in the presence (Transition, Filamented) or absence (Coliform and Reverted) of ceftibuten (K). Data are presented as mean ± SEM of n = 4 independent experiments. Asterisks denote statistical significance ^**p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001.