FIG 2.

N. meningitidis affects L. reuteri-mediated hBD2 induction during coincubation. Pharyngeal epithelial cells were incubated with L. reuteri and N. meningitidis, either alone or coincubated, at an MOI of 100 for 6 h. Gene expression of hBD2 was quantified using qPCR. Expression was normalized against the β-actin housekeeping gene and expressed as the fold change compared to the control. Data are represented as the mean values, with error bars representing the standard deviations. The assay was performed in triplicate at least three times. Significance was tested against the control or as indicated. *, P < 0.05.