FIG 5.

Quantification results of a naturally aging C. coli ATCC 43478 culture in CAMHB stored at room temperature under aerobic conditions at three different time points (42 h, 15 days, and 42 days). (Left) Numbers of genome copies (one genome copy equals one cell equivalent) per milliliter of culture (mean of results from triplicates ± SD) detected by PCR-based (qPCR, PMA-qPCR) and numbers of CFU ± SD obtained by culture-based (plating) methods (see Table 2). (Right) Numbers of genome copies (means of results from triplicates ± SD) detected per qPCR assay after treatment with H₂O₂ (ISPC). Counts with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) from each other are indicated with the same lowercase letter. Counts with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) from each other are indicated with a different lowercase letters. *, culture-based enumeration was below the limit of quantification.