Fig 1.

Growth fitness comparison of Y. pestis KIM6+ wild-type (●), Δhfq mutant (■), and complemented mutant Δhfq (pCR4::hfq) (▲) strains at 21°C (A) and 28°C (B) in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth and wild-type (●) and Δhfq mutant (■) strains at 21°C in TMH medium (0.2% galactose, 1 μg/ml hemin) (C). The specific growth rate, μ, represents the linear regression slope calculated from exponential-phase time spans 4 to 10 h and 17 to 28 h for growth in BHI broth and TMH broth, respectively. Means and standard deviations of the results of 3 independent experiments are indicated. Repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) measurements were used to determine significant differences in slopes (μ). * indicates P < 0.001.