FIG. 6.

The O-Ag capsule is required for survival against desiccation stress. Survival of SE 3b and fimbrial (ΔagfA), cellulose (ΔbcsA), extracellular matrix (ΔagfD), and capsule mutants (ΔyihO, ΔyihQ, and ΔPyih) was compared after lyophilization. Colonies were grown on T agar for 6 days at 28°C, peeled off the agar surface, frozen, and lyophilized for 1 week. Bars represent the average number of CFU per colony and standard deviations corresponding to three individual colonies. The asterisks shows statistical significance compared to wt survival values. (*, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01).