FIG 6.

H. pylori cagY and T4SS function are maintained in iron-deficient mice. (A) At 8 weeks p.i., the colonization load of H. pylori was not affected by the iron-deficient diet. However, compared to colonies (3 to 6/mouse) from iron-replete mice, H. pylori colonies from mice fed an iron-deficient diet maintained T4SS function (induction of IL-8) indistinguishable from that WT PMSS1 (B), and showed no recombination of cagY by RFLP analysis (C) (Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.0001). (D) Gastric IFN-γ expression was greater in iron-deficient mice that were colonized with H. pylori with a fully functional T4SS than in iron-replete mice. Bars indicate means ± SEMs. *, P < 0.05; ***, P < 0.0001.