FIG. 6.

Phenotypic characterization of B. pseudomallei K96243 Δasd_Bp and ΔdapB_Bp mutants. Wild-type K96243 was rod shaped when grown in the absence or presence of DAP (left). The Δasd_Bp (center) and ΔdapB_Bp (right) mutant strains grow, but “pop and die” without the ability to cross-link their cell walls in the absence of DAP. The majority of the bacteria are in the process of forming protoplasts. Some protoplasts could be observed (black arrows), as well as cell debris (white arrows) due to bacterial lysis; these were absent when mutants were grown in the presence of DAP (bottom).