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. 2021 May 17;89(6):e00721-20. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00721-20

FIG 5.

FIG 5

FliC expression in the ompX mutant and contribution of fliC to bacterial adhesion to and internalization within the kidney epithelial cells. (A) Western blots of cell lysates and secreted proteins from the parent strain (CFT073) and the ompX mutant containing a VSVG-tagged FliC expression plasmid (pTH18krfliC-VSVG) and pTrc99A (empty vector) or pTrc99AompX (ompX expression plasmid). Locations of molecular mass standards (in kilodaltons) are shown on the left. VSVG-tagged FliC was visualized by probing with a VSVG antibody. Adhesion to and internalization in kidney epithelial cells (HTB-44) of the parent strain, fliC mutant, and fliC/ompX double mutant (B and C) or the parent strain and the fliC mutant carrying pTrc99A (empty vector) or pTrc99AfliC (fliC expression plasmid) (D). Values are percent CFU of adhered/internalized (B) and internalized (C and D) bacteria relative to total bacterial cell numbers. Data are means from three independent experiments; error bars indicate standard deviations. *, P < 0.05 relative to CFT073 (B and C) or CFT073/pTrc99A (D).