FIG 2.

EHEC and UPEC destroy the epithelial barrier. HIOs were injected with 10³ CFU of Nissle, UPEC, or EHEC along with the fluorescent dye FITC-dextran. (A) The retention of fluorescence was monitored microscopically over time. Bars, 100 μm. Representative images of experiments performed in triplicate are shown. (B) The epithelial barrier function was assessed by quantifying the retention of fluorescence using ImageJ software, and the fluorescence is plotted as the mean ± SD (n = 3). The statistical significance (determined by an unpaired t test) of the results for Nissle versus those for EHEC was assessed at 18 h postinfection (**, P < 0.003), and the statistical significance of the results for Nissle versus those for UPEC was assessed at 72 h postinfection (*, P < 0.02).