T6SS locus expression.

<p>A) RT-PCR transcriptional analysis of <i>hcp</i> and <i>tssM</i> expression in strains grown in L-broth; <i>rpoB</i> gene expression was used as endogenous control. The RNA not subjected to RT was also run in PCR (bottom panel, negative control) to ensure that PCR positive reactions were due to the presence of transcripts and not contaminating genomic DNA. B) The presence of Hcp (arrows) in concentrated culture supernatants of the indicated <i>A</i>. <i>baumannii</i> strains grown up to exponential phase in L-Broth was determined by 18% SDS-PAGE and Coomasie Blue staining. C) Control immunoblottings showing the presence of Hcp in the supernatant (first panel) and whole lysates fractions (second panel). A cell-lysis control using antibodies directed against EF-Tu (standard cytoplasmic marker) was performed using supernatant (third panel) or whole lysate (fourth panel) fractions. The final positions of the molecular mass markers (in kDa) are indicated on the right margin.