Because the proteomics analysis (see above) revealed that complement factors C3 and B levels were lower in the supernatants from AMs infected with WT-PAO1, when compared with ΔLasB-PAO1 infection and with Control un-infected treatment (suggesting a proteolytic effect of LasB on these components), their protein levels were then directly assessed by ELISA. This evidence concerns the gene C3 and infection.