TABLE 2.

Emission of light by S. mutans cells as a function of storage time at different temperatures^a

Temp (°C)	RLU at the following times (h)b:
	0	1	2	3	5	8
0	38.2	40.7	40.2	36.4	29.0	24.2
4	37.8	39.8	41.6	44.2	36.6	29.9
RT	39.1	27.9	22.4	16.5	7.4	1.0
30	38.3	14.7	7.8	1.5	3.3	0.3

^aThe bacteria were stored in buffer and were incubated at different temperatures. Aliquots were withdrawn at the indicated time intervals, and the bioluminescence of the bacteria was measured at RT. 

^bThe results are the means of two independent measurements. Variation between the measurements was less than 10%, in agreement with previous studies (29, 31). RLU, relative light units.