Figure 2.

Phage-dependent lateral gene transfer of chromate reductase by M13-phage_Gh-ChrR results in enhanced biomass formation. Confocal images of live (Cyto9; green) or dead (PI; red) cells (top panels), rates of chromate reduction (middle panels), and measured biomass (bottom panels) for mature biofilms comprised of E. coli strain TG1 alone (left panels), in the presence of either phagmid Gh-ChrR or helper phage alone (center panels), or following infection (right panels). Chromate (5 mM) reduction was monitored by measuring the absorbance at 370 nm wavelength, and is normalized following correction for the absorbance of the LB medium. Total biomass was estimated by crystal violet staining and measured absorbance at 595 nm, and is normalized to that of TG1 alone (left panel).

Note: Significant differences (*) in comparison to TG1 alone (P-value < 0.01) were based on a Student’s t-test (n = 3).