FIG 6.

Modulation of host intracellular iron content directly influences C. burnetii intracellular replication. The influence of host iron pools on C. burnetii intracellular replication was assessed by exposing infected Vero cells for 3 days to different concentrations of Bpdl at onset of infection and measuring C. burnetii load via GE (a). Each bar represents the average of 2 to 6 independent experiments; error bars indicate SEM. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01 (one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s posttest). C. burnetii intracellular viability was determined via CFU enumeration from Vero cells exposed to Bpdl for 3 days following addition on day 3 (d3) postinfection (b). Data points indicate biological replicates with the mean and SEM represented. n.s., not significant; *, P < 0.05 (paired Student’s t test).