One or more RpoS-dependent gene products, independent of <i>ospC</i>, are required for spirochete's to penetrate into the hemolymph; see Figure S1 for spirochete burden analyses.

aHemolymph was collected from feeding nymphs 72 h post-placement and cultured in BSK-II. The denominator represents the total number of ticks analyzed. bCultures were monitored for the presence of spirochetes by dark field microscopy for 8 weeks. cThe time frames in which organisms (WT, WT-gfp, ΔospC, ΔrpoS+rpoS, and ΔrpoS-gfp+rpoS) were recovered from the hemolymph was highly similar in each experiment (n = 3). dSkin of a C3H/HeJ mouse (4–6 sites per mouse) was excised from the site where a nymph was attached at the indicated time post-repletion. A minimum of 3 mice were tested per isolate. The denominator represents the total number of bite sites analyzed; ND = not determined. eMice were sacrificed 4 weeks post-inoculation and the indicated tissues cultured in BSK-II. The denominator represents the total number of mice analyzed per isolate. fEar punches were performed at 2 and 4 weeks post-feeding and cultured in BSK-II.