The Akt activation kinetics induced by the two bacterial strains were similar, with a peak of Ser473-phospho-Akt at 1 h p.i. However, infection with bacteria expressing the SopB-K6R mutant caused a threefold to fivefold increase in the peak intensity of phospho-Akt signal, as well as sustained Akt phosphorylation up to 4 h p.i. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and infection.