FIG 3.
vlhA expression profile of the M. gallisepticum vlhA 3.03 mutant (A) or wild-type M. gallisepticum Rlow (B) extracted directly from tracheas of experimentally inoculated birds over the course of the 7-day infection, as determined by RNA sequencing. Only vlhA genes discussed are shown. Each data point represents an average RPKM value from the results determined for five animals. Error bars show SEM. Key statistically significant changes between two time points are indicated by paired upper- and lowercase letters for the genes vlhA 3.03 (A/a), vlhA 4.07.6 and vlhA 4.07 (B/b), and vlhA 4.07.1 and vlhA 4.08 (C/c). (C) Tracheal thickness of chickens challenged with wild-type M. gallisepticum (solid line) or the M. gallisepticum 3.03 mutant (dashed line). Each data point represents an average thickness measure of 4 measurements from 5 animals each. Error bars show SEM.