Fig. 6

Analysis of bacteria-crystal binding. Bacteria-crystal binding assay was performed to determine the crystal-binding capability of L. acidophilus or E. coli. A Qualitative analysis by fluorescence staining of bacterial DNA using Hoechst dye (the bacteria are in blue and indicated with white arrows). B Quantitative analysis by flow cytometry using propidium iodide to stain bacterial DNA. The crystals without bacterial incubation served as the control. C Percentage of the bacteria-bound crystals was then quantified. D Scatter plot of fluorescence intensity and crystal size. E Fluorescence intensity/crystal size ratio was then quantified. Quantitative data were obtained from three independent experiments using independent biological replicates. The error bar represents SD, and only significant P values are indicated