We have focused on the expression of genes encoding adhesion factors: pilE, opaB, opaC, and nhbA; genes encoding proteins involved in iron acquisition: tbpA, lbpA, fetA, and tonB; mtrC encoding the first gene of the mtrCDE operon that is involved in drug efflux; ctrA that codes for the capsular transport protein A; and the four genes coding for targets of the meningitidis B (MenB) vaccine, porA, fhbp, nadA, and nhbA. We compared the expression of these genes during AIC infection to their expression during the exponential and stationary phase of growth in broth (Fig. 4). This evidence concerns the gene TTR and infection.