All strains were cultivated for 48 to 72 h at 37°C in a microaerobic condition (10% CO2, 5% O2, and 85% N2) using Columbia agar medium supplemented with 5% sheep blood in a three-gas incubator. Strains were inoculated in BHI containing 10% FBS and shaken at 150 rpm for liquid incubation.