Figure 1.

(a) Viability of PgW83 after 30 min exposure to oxidative stress (H2O2) in comparison to the untreated control. Following the 30 min exposure, the cultures were serially diluted and plated on blood agar plates. (b) PgW83 cultures demonstrating cells in the VBNC state as detected with Live/Dead BacLight staining, after exposure to oxidative stress. Following treatment, PgW83 was no longer culturable. However, viable PgW83 were visible, according to Syto9 staining. Thus PgW83 transitioned to the VBNC state in response to oxidative stress.