QseBC homologues are required for B. pseudomallei motility.

B. pseudomallei wild-type K96243 and ΔqseBC mutant were grown on motility plates in the presence or absence 50 μM epinephrine. Motility zones after 18 h of incubation were determined. (A) 0.3% (w/v) nutrient agar was used to assess for swimming motility. (B) Swarming motility was assayed using 0.5% (w/v) nutrient agar. (C) Transcription of fliC gene was investigated by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR using B. pseudomallei wild-type K96243 and ΔqseBC mutant cultured to exponential phase in LB medium in the presence or absence 50 μM epinephrine. Three independent experiments were performed. Error bars represent standard errors of the means following students t-test. Asterisks indicate significant differences (P ≤ 0.05, t-test).