<p>(A) <i>pmlI</i> transcriptional network. The diagram shows genes differentially expressed in <i>pmlI</i>-disrupted mutants (>2-fold change), overlaid onto the condition-dependent network. Red and green spots represent up- and down-regulated genes. Yellow star - location of the <i>pmlI</i> gene. Genes coding for chemotaxis/mobility (violet-dotted line) and surface polysaccharide antigens (blue-dotted line) are shown. (B) Motility assays. The wild type parental strain Bp008 is motile, as shown by the more turbid medium. The QS mutant is non-motile and only grows along the line of inoculation. (C) Electron microscope photographs of the Bp capsule. The exopolysaccharide material typical of Bp capsule I (CPSI) is apparent in the parental strain Bp008 as shown by the black streaks surrounding the rod-shaped bacterium. In contrast, neither exopolysaccharide material nor capsule architecture is observable in the mutant. (D) Disruption of QS system results in altered bacterial phenotype. The wild type parental strain Bp008 exhibits a smooth colony phenotype when grown on agar plate whereas the QS mutant has a wrinkled phenotype.</p
