Fig. 6. Clinical relevance of Lpp-dependent cell mechanics: Lpp mutations increase susceptibility of the cells to vancomycin.

Time-dependent susceptibility of each bacterial strain toward vancomycin, as expressed by the change in the Young’s modulus (a) and the cell stiffness (b). Standard deviations are obtained from N independent cells over at least three independent experiments (data are presented as mean ± SD). c AFM height images (color scale: 1.2 µm) of E. coli strains after vancomycin treatment (100 µg/mL). The inset for Lpp⁺²¹ is a closer view corresponding to the black square (1.5 µm × 1.5 µm) showing a lysed cell. Black arrows show blebs. These images are representative of at least three independent experiments. d Evolution of the OD₆₀₀ of each strain while being treated with vancomycin (data are presented as mean ± SD). e Table summarizing MIC values for different E. coli strains. Values are representative of four biological replicates. f Vancomycin sensitivity spotting assay. Cells were serially diluted and spotted overnight on LB agar plates containing vancomycin where indicated. Data shown are representative of three biological replicates. WT wild type, LB Luria-Broth. *P ≤ 0.005, **P ≤ 0.001, and ***P ≤ 0.0001. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.