Figure 3From: Heterologous expression of pathogen-specific genes ligA and ligB in the saprophyte Leptospira biflexaconfers enhanced adhesion to cultured cells and fibronectinAssociation of L. biflexa transformants with MDCK monolayers. Adhesion of MDCK epithelial cells with L. interrogans (L1-130), L. biflexa wild-type strain (wt), and ligA- (ligA), and ligB- (ligB) L. biflexa transformants. Results were determined after 30, 60, and 240 minutes exposure, followed by extensive washing of non-adherent bacteria. The bars show the mean number of bacteria associated per host cell ± standard deviation carried out in 10 random fields in two independent experiments. The numbers of adherent leptospires/cell between the L. biflexa wild-type strain and the ligA- and ligB- L. biflexa transformants were statiscally different at 240 minutes (P < 0.05).Back to article page