FIG. 5.

Sensitivity of wt and tagO S. aureus strains to Triton X-100. Bacteria (wt and tagO strains) were grown until the mid-logarithmic growth phase and then exposed to increasing concentrations of Triton X-100 (twofold dilutions ranging from 1% to 0.001% [vol/vol]). Bacterial absorbance (OD₅₅₀) was measured after 2 h of incubation at 37°C. The values represent the percentages of OD₅₅₀ of initial inoculum after 2 h of incubation of bacteria with or without Triton X-100. The results shown are the means of two independent experiments ± standard errors of the means (error bars), each done in duplicate samples. Where indicated, the asterisks denote statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences in sensitivity of wt and tagO S. aureus strains to Triton X-100.