Fig. 3

Phenotypic characterization of the parent strain GP72(rpeA-) and the genome-reduced mutants (MDS10 and MDS22). a Colony morphology assays were performed on 10 g/L tryptone broth plates (1% agar) containing Congo Red (40 μg/ml) and Coomassie Brilliant Blue (20 μg/ml). Strains were grown in LB liquid medium to late exponential phase, and then 10 μl were spotted onto plates and incubated at 28 °C for 6 days [49]. b Flagellar swimming assays were performed by using semi solid agarose plates. The swimming status was photographed after overnight incubation at 28 °C [51]. Three replicates were used for each sample and experiments repeated for twice