FIG 7.

Model of phenotypic heterogeneity of UPEC cells during infection. Phenotypic heterogeneity leads to the formation of three different subpopulations. Dormant nondividing cells are simultaneously protected from serum and antibiotics. The dominant subpopulation of cells with an intermediate growth rate is susceptible to antibiotics and serum. Rapidly dividing cells are susceptible to antibiotics but can resist serum complement-mediated lysis. Bacteria are depicted as dark gray ovals, and lighter gray ovals indicate dilution of the color by cell division.