FIG 5.

Sporulation levels in the C. difficile 630Δerm wt/p, Δhfq/p, and Δhfq/p-hfq strains (as numbers of spores) and the total amount of bacteria (as numbers of CFU) (control) after 24 h (A) and 48 h (B) of growth in BHIS supplemented with Tm and ATc. The serial dilutions of the cultures spotted on BHI plates supplemented with taurocholate are indicated (ND, not diluted). Spore samples were heated to kill all cells other than spores, while the control samples were not heated to estimate the total amount of bacteria.