Expression of <i>phoPR-H37Rv</i> in <i>M</i>. <i>canettii</i> STB-KR enhances infectivity in hMDMs.

hMDMs were infected at a MOI of 2 bacteria per cell for 2 h with the various strains. After infection, cells were washed and further incubated with culture medium in the presence of serum. At 2 h and 168 h post-infection, cell nuclei and F-actin were labelled with DAPI and with rhodamine-phalloidin antibodies respectively. Bacteria were detected thanks to the GFP fluorescence. For each lot of hMDMs (derived from 5 different donors), the percentage of infected hMDMs and the fluorescence intensity per cell were evaluated. A) Vertical bar plots indicating the percentage of hMDMs hosting at least one bacterium after 2 h or 168 h of infection. The difference between the experimental groups was evaluated by one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s comparison test values. B) Box plot of the Log fluorescence intensity (RAWIntDen) measured for each strain at 2 h post-infection. For each strain, the mean value was also calculated and is indicated above the graph. C) Log fluorescence intensity (RAWIntDen) values plotted for each hMDM from each donor and each strain at 2 h post-infection. The difference between the experimental groups was evaluated as not significant using a mixed linear model. D) Cluster analysis of data plotted on panel C). E) Log fluorescence intensity (RAWIntDen) values plotted for each hMDM from each donor and each strain at 168 h post-infection. F) Cluster analysis of data plotted on panel E). (TIF)