Cumulative frequency (percent) distribution of raw DEFB-CN determined from DNA obtained from blood and saliva samples.

<p>(Panel A) We observed a slightly lower mean DEFB-CN among gDNA templates isolated from whole blood samples (—_█—) relative to DEFB-CN estimated from gDNA extracted from saliva samples (^•••▴^•••) (<i>p</i><0.05, t-test). However, when stratified by sample type, there were no significant differences found between OM prone (—_█—) and control (^•••▴^•••) DEFB-CN derived from either whole blood samples (Panel B) (<i>p</i> = 0.55, t-test) or saliva samples (Panel C) (<i>p</i> = 0.37, t-test).</p

Cumulative DEFB-CN frequency (percent) distribution among OM prone and control subjects.

<p>The overall distribution of DEFB-CN did not differ significantly among OM prone (—_█—) or control (<b>^•••</b>▴<b>^•••</b>) study subjects (p>0.05).</p

Nasopharyngeal colonization pattern among study subjects.

<p>*Indicates a significant difference (<i>p</i>-value <0.05) between OM prone and healthy controls.</p

Subject Demographics.

<p>Subject Demographics.</p

Univariate analyses of subject-level characteristics.

<p>Univariate analyses of subject-level characteristics.</p