Fig 5. Kco_Z acidifies tsetse’s gut.

Midgut pH of Gmm^Apo/Kco_Z, Gmm^Apo/Sgm, Gmm^WT/Kco_Z and Gmm^WT flies. Distinct groups of teneral Gmm^Apo flies were inoculated per os with either Kco_Z or Sodalis, while Gmm^WT individuals received Kco_Z (all flies received 5x10⁴ CFU of bacteria per ml of blood) or no bacteria. Five days post-inoculation, all individuals were offered a meal containing sucrose (2.5%) and phenol red (0.04%) dissolved in water. Twenty-four hours later, fly abdomens were excised and the color of the solution found within the midgut was observed. Each image represents one of five flies monitored for each treatment.