FIG 9.
Fitness cost of plasmid pUR2940 in its original host, strain C2940. Fitness of strain C2940 was compared with that of its plasmid-free derivative C2940 PFt0. (Left) Area under the growth curve; (right) duration of the lag phase. Data were collected during growth in TSB medium for 24 h at 37°C with shaking. Ten technical replicates were used for each of the tested strains. Results from one representative experiment of at least three independent experiments are shown. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Mann-Whitney U test. **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.