Fig. 6

Morphological changes of GES-1 cells as demonstrated by the observed by transmission electron microscopy after incubation at a high final concentration (65 μg/mL) of VacA recombinant protein for 24 h. A The blank control (Magnification × 5000). B The buffer control (50 mM acetic acid, pH 2.9, Magnification × 5000). C VacA recombinant protein (at a final concentration of 65 μg/mL); C1: The cell volume is reduced and the surface microvilli disappears (Magnification × 5000); C2: Nucleus shrinks and agglutinates to the periphery (Magnification × 10,000); and C3 & C4: Cytoplasmic disintegration and vacuoles (Magnification × 10,000)