FIG 8.

Released SpA protects S. aureus from killing in human blood. Washed bacteria were incubated in blood for 3 h at 37°C, and the number of input and recovered bacteria was calculated by viable counting. The percentage increase in CFU counts (growth) of each strain was determined by dividing the mean CFU count after 3 h by the mean input CFU count. Bars represent the mean percentage increase in CFU counts from three independent experiments, and error bars indicate the standard errors of the means. ***, P < 0.001; *, P < 0.05.