About the Authors

Brittany N. Ross

Affiliation Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 77555–1070, United States of America

Maricarmen Rojas-Lopez

Current address: Glaxo Smith Kline, Siena, Italy.

Affiliation Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 77555–1070, United States of America

Roberto J. Cieza

Current address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States of America.

Affiliation Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 77555–1070, United States of America

Brian D. McWilliams

Current address: Bethyl Laboratories, Inc., Montgomery, TX, United States of America.

Affiliation Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 77555–1070, United States of America

Alfredo G. Torres

altorres@utmb.edu

Affiliations Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 77555–1070, United States of America, Department of Pathology and Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 77555–1070, United States of America

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: BNR RJC BDM MRL AGT. Performed the experiments: BNR BDM MRL. Analyzed the data: BNR RJC BDM MRL AGT. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: BNR RJC MRL AGT. Wrote the paper: BNR MRL AGT.