FIG 3.

Role of enterococcal pili during vaginal colonization. (A and B) E. faecalis OG1RF WT and OG1RF ΔebpABC strain adherence to human vaginal (A) and endocervical (B) cells. Data are expressed as percent recovered cell-associated E. faecalis relative to the initial inoculum. Experiments were performed with four technical replicates, and error bars represent SD; the results of three combined biological replicates are shown and analyzed using an unpaired t test; ***, P < 0.0001; ****, P < 0.00001. (C) C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with either the OG1RF WT or OG1RF ΔebpABC strain, and the vaginal lumen was swabbed daily. Data were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparisons (P > 0.05). Black lines indicate the median CFU values.