FIG 3.

Larger S. aureus aggregates are recalcitrant to clearance by human neutrophils. (A) Net change in S. aureus bacterial area after a 4-h interaction with human neutrophils comparing outcomes from addition of neutrophils immediately following bacterial attachment (no head start) and after allowing bacteria to grow for 1, 2, or 3 h and form small aggregates prior to neutrophil addition (pooled head start); n = 38 fields of view without head starts from 9 independent experiments, n = 24 fields of view with head starts from 4 independent experiments (n = 8 fields of view per head start time). (B) Clearance of bacteria without a head start compared to pooled head starts of 1, 2, or 3 h (all time points included). Error bars represent standard deviations of the samples. ****, P < 0.0001 by an unpaired t test.