Figure legend:
Figure 1 . Evaluation of the internalization frequency by IFC evaluation and cellular metabolism viability, after 3h p.i. at an MOI of 100:1. A. Percentage of spots per cell ± SD for each strain for three different experiments. B . Detailed statistical data obtained using Student’s t-test vs ATCC12598: p-value, 95% confidence and R squared. Statistically significant p-value ≤0.05 *; highly significant ≤0.01**; extremely significant ≤0.001***.
Figure 2 . Evaluation of the intracellular persistence by IFC evaluation and cellular metabolism viability, after 24h p.i. at an MOI of 100:1. A. Percentage of spots per cell ± SD for each strain for three different experiments. B. Detailed statistical data obtained using Student’s t-test vs ATCC12598: p- value, 95% confidence and R squared. Statistically significant p -value ≤0.05 *; highly significant ≤0.01**; extremely significant ≤0.001***, more than extremely significant ≤0.0001****.
Figure 3 . Evaluation of the relative mRNA expression of genes involved in regulation in ATCC12598, ST239 and ST228 strains after 3h and 24h p.i. vs basal condition. Horizontal bars report statistical analysis conducted vs ATCC12598 and between ST239 and ST228. Statistically significant p -value ≤0.05 *; highly significant ≤0.01**; extremely significant ≤0.001***.
Figure 4 . Evaluation of the relative mRNA expression of the MSCRAMM genes in ATCC12598, ST239 and ST228 strains after 3h and 24h p.i. vs basal condition. Horizontal bars show statistical analysis conducted vs ATCC12598 and between ST239 and ST228. Statistically significant p -value ≤0.05 *; highly significant ≤0.01**; extremely significant ≤0.001***.
Figure 5 . Evaluation of the relative mRNA expression of toxin genes in ATCC12598, ST239 and ST228 strains after 3h and 24h p.i.vs basal condition. Horizontal bars show statistical analysis conducted vs ATCC12598 and between ST239 and ST228. Statistically significant p -value ≤0.05 *; highly significant ≤0.01**; extremely significant ≤0.001***.