Figure 2.

Gonococcal gene expression during mucosal infection in women. Approximately 1700 gonococcal genes are expressed during natural mucosal infection in women. Genes with RPKM values above 10 based on analysis with Rockhopper are grouped in 11 representative categories. The largest categories are hypothetical protein genes (517), indicated in black, and metabolism associated genes (447), which include general metabolism, energy, DNA and amino acid metabolism (blue). Expression-associated genes (192), including transcription, translation, rRNA synthesis and transcription factors, are indicated in goldenrod; sRNA genes (166) are in green; phage-associated genes (155), which include dsDNA, filamentous phages and transposase genes, are in dark blue; transport-associated genes (73) are in gray; tRNA genes (57) are in light blue. Host interaction-associated genes (46) include generally membrane-associated proteins such as adhesins, pilin biosynthesis and functions, lipoproteins, etc. and are indicated in pink; stress-associated genes (25) are in red; iron-associated genes (13) are in yellow and genes categorized as other (10) are in orange.