FIG 4.
SP enhances biofilm formation of N. gonorrhoeae. (A) N. gonorrhoeae FA1090NV was grown in biofilm flow chambers for 24 h at a flow rate of 60 μl/min in the presence (SP) or absence (untreated) of a 1:20 dilution of SP. Bars represent mean ± standard deviation total fluorescent biofilm volumes. Viability of bacteria in biofilms was determined using a live/dead stain, with green and red fluorescence indicating viable and nonviable bacteria, respectively. The viable biofilm volume was significantly different between the SP-treated and untreated conditions, as assessed by the Mann-Whitney test (P < 0.02). (B) Representative three-dimensional reconstructions from confocal images of biofilm growth in SP-containing and untreated medium. Scale bar represents 20 μm.