FIG 10.

BinK is active in groups A, B, and C. (A) Overexpression of pBinK inhibits colonization in group A strain MB11B1. Hatchling squid were inoculated with 3.6 × 10³ to 6.8 × 10³ CFU/ml bacteria, washed at 3 h and 24 h, and assayed at 48 h. Each dot represents an individual squid. The limit of detection is represented by the dashed line, and the bars represent the median of each set. The vector control is pVSV104. Strains are MJM1782, MJM2386, MJM2997, and MJM2998. (B) Deletion of binK confers a colonization defect in group C strain SR5. Strains are MJM1125 and MJM3571. The mean inoculum was 7.2 × 10³ CFU/ml, and the median competitive index (CI) was 0.38 (i.e., 2.4-fold advantage for the mutant). (C) Deletion of the native binK in MB11B1 yielded opaque and cohesive spots, which are stronger phenotypes than we observe in ES114. Strains are MJM1100, MJM2251, MJM1130, MJM3084, MJM2997, and MJM2998. Statistical comparisons were done with the Mann-Whitney test. ****, P < 0.0001.