Fig 4.

Antibiotic persistence of ∆pspA was positively correlated with protein aggresome formation. (A) Time-lapse images of the antibiotic killing and recovery process of ∆pspA. According to the different cell responses to antibiotic treatment, we categorized the whole population of ∆pspA into three subgroups: sensitive cells, persisters, and VBNC cells. Sensitive cells were those that were killed during antibiotic treatment. Persisters were a small group of cells that survived and resuscitated after antibiotic removal, and the persister shown in the figure was outlined by a red dotted line. VBNC cells were the cells that remained in a dormant state throughout the antibiotic treatment and after its removal. (B) The proportion of cells with dark foci in each of the three cell subgroups of ∆pspA (sensitive cells, persisters, and VBNC cells). N indicates the cell number measured. Scale bar, 3 µm.