The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) which quantifies the integrity and permeability of the epithelial layer, LDH release which quantifies the epithelium cellular damage, and the bacterial count which quantifies the growth and penetration of the bacteria through the epithelium to the basolateral side of the ALI transwells, all showed reduced values after 14 h of infection by the aceF mutant, compared with the PAO1 progenitor (Fig 6A). Here, SMOX is linked to infection.