FIG. 8.

Elastase secretion models in P. aeruginosa strains derived from PAO1 and PAO1algC. Active Xcp machinery is represented as an empty rectangle, while a shaded rectangle corresponds to a defective secretory system. Relative levels of elastase (LasB) and β-lactamase (Bla) released into the medium are indicated by arrow width. Ex, extracellular medium; OM, outer membrane; PS, periplasmic space; IM, inner membrane; Cy, cytoplasm; *LasB_a, active intracellular elastase; LasB_a, active extracellular elastase; *LasB_i, inactive intracellular elastase; LasB_i, inactive elastase; *Bla, intracellular β-lactamase (see text for commentaries).