Table 2 Bacterial strains and eukaryotic cells used in this study.

C. diphtheriae

DSM44123

non-toxigenic isolate, type strain

DSMZ (Braunschweig)

ISS3319

C. diphtheriae var. mitis, non-toxigenic isolate

[9]

ISS4060

C. diphtheriae var. gravis, non-toxigenic isolate

[9]

Lilo1

ISS3319 DIP1281::pK18mob'DIP1281''

This study

Lilo2

ISS4060 DIP1281::pK18mob'DIP1281''

This study

E. coli

DH5αMCR

endA1 supE44 thi-1 λ^- recA1 gyrA96 relA1 deoR Δ(lacZYA-argF) U196 φ80ΔlacZ ΔM15 mcrA Δ(mmr hsdRMSmcrBC)

[28]

Cell lines

Detroit562

human hypopharyngeal carcinoma cells

[29]