FIG 2.
Activation of the rpmJ2 promoter in CF sputum by P. aeruginosa is inversely correlated with total sputum zinc concentration. (A) P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 PrpmJ2-lacZ was inoculated into 8 different CF sputum samples. Zinc concentration of the same 8 CF sputum samples was determined by ICP-MS. β-Gal activity on the left y axis (bars) was then compared to sputum zinc concentration on the right y axis (dots). (B) Pearson correlation matrix comparing β-Gal activity (Miller units), sputum zinc concentration, sputum iron concentration, and sputum manganese concentration. *, P < 0.05, **, P < 0.01.