FIG 6.

Deletion of phoP from M. tuberculosis H37Rv reduces its survivability under heat stress. WT and ΔphoP M. tuberculosis strains were compared for survival under increasing heat stress by CFU counting (n = 3). Although the ΔphoP strain grew comparably well as the WT bacilli under normal conditions, it remained significantly growth defective under heat stress. However, the growth defect of the mutant was completely restored in the complemented mutant. Note that 100% survival of the bacilli is assumed at the zero time point.