FIG. 3.

Effect of permeabilizing treatments. (A) Effect of toluene treatment on L. pneumophila counts determined by qPCR (a), v-PCR (b), and culture (c) methods. L. pneumophila cells were exposed to 0.1%, 1%, or 5% toluene for 60 min. Control, without toluene treatment. The detection limit of the v-PCR assay is indicated by a dotted line. (B) Evaluation of culturable (culture) and viable (v-PCR) L. pneumophila counts compared with total count (qPCR) before and after permeabilization with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Signal reductions (in log) observed for each method after permeabilizing treatment compared with untreated control are indicated. Error bars represent standard deviations from two independent replicates.