... assembly. In the first model, both hydrophobic translocators exist in oligomeric form, with the major partner insertedstably into the membrane, whereas the minor protein is the link with the V antigen. ... isnot the case for its counterparts in other bacteria. Itsinteraction with macrophages induces a decrease in the production of the pro -in ammatory cytokines tumournecrosis factor-a and interferon ... that the needle tip, which in principle contacts all three translocon components,exists in ‘on’ and ‘off’ states [52], thus suggesting thatall proteins involved in the initial contact with the target...