Figure 4.

The ability of clinical strains to activate TLR2 is much weaker than that of ATCC 33277. (A) Cells were infected for 4 h (MOI=100) with various clinical strains (k1-k10), ATCC 33277 (ATCC WT), or W83, n=4. Results are presented as the mean ± SD ratio of Firefly luciferase activity to β-galactosidase activity and are normalized to cells stimulated/infected with the same factor and transfected with an empty vector. (B) Western blot analysis of laboratory and clinical strain cultures (adjusted to OD₆₀₀) to detect FimA. (C) PPAD activity in whole laboratory and clinical strain cultures (adjusted to OD₆₀₀), n=6. Results were compared with those from the ATCC 332777 strain. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001; ns, no statistical significance. 1-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. (D) The FimA type determined by sequencing of the fimA gene in clinical strains.