FIG 2.
Phosphorylcholine incorporation by oropharyngeal and blood NTHi isolates as determined by flow cytometry with the TEPC-15 antibody. (A) H. influenzae strains H446 (PCho−) and H457 (PCho+) were mixed, and the presence of PCho was detected by flow cytometry with TEPC-15 (n = 3). (B) Invasive NTHi strains CWZ_005, CWZ_006, and CWZ_007 were passaged 4 times on agar plates, and the presence of PCho was detected by flow cytometry with TEPC-15 (n = 3). (C) The percentage of PCho-expressing bacteria from 22 blood and 20 oropharyngeal NTHi isolates was detected by flow cytometry with TEPC-15 (n = 3). Fisher’s exact test was used to determine significant differences in PCholow and PChohigh strain distribution between blood and oropharyngeal NTHi isolates. **, P < 0.01.