Figure 3.

Physical interaction between A. fumigatus and K. pneumoniae. The bacteria and fungi were grown in Transwell plates providing physical separation, but permitting interaction by exchange of secreted molecules. (A) Photos of the inserts (upper compartments). 1. Growth of A. fumigatus alone; 2./3. No growth of the K. pneumoniae strains K.p. 13883 and K.p. 700603 which had been seeded solely in the lower compartments (see B); 4. Negative control: YPD; 5. Aspergillus growing in the upper compartment in the presence of K.p. 13883 in the lower compartment; 6. Aspergillus growing in the upper compartment in the presence of a co-culture of A.f. vs K.p. 13883 in the lower compartment; 7. Aspergillus growing in the upper compartment in the presence of K.p. 700603 in the lower compartment; 8. Aspergillus growing in the upper compartment in the presence of a co-culture of A.f. vs K.p. 700603 in the lower compartment. (B) Photos of the wells (lower compartments) reflecting K. pneumoniae grown alone or in combination with A. fumigatus. The fungus seeded in the upper compartment cannot transgress to the lower compartment and vice versa. The wells show presence of bacterial growth only, without any evidence for A. fumigatus growth. 1. A. fumigatus without fungal growth as the fungus was seeded in the upper compartment (see A); 2. Growth of K.p. 13883 alone in the lower compartment; 3. Growth of K.p. 700603 alone in the lower compartment; 4. K.p. 13883 growing in co-culture with A.f. in the lower compartment, without any fungus in the upper compartment; 5. K.p. 13883 growing in co-culture with A.f. in the lower compartment with fungal growth in the upper compartment (see A); 6. K.p. 700603 growing in co-culture with A.f. in the lower compartment, without any fungus in the upper compartment; 7. K.p. 700603 growing in co-culture with A.f. in the lower compartment with fungal growth in the upper compartment (see A).