PGE₂ stimulates the growth of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> biofilms.

<p>(<b>a</b>) <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> 19552 was grown in single species biofilms in the presence of various concentrations of purified PGE_2. The mean number of colony forming units (cfu`s) from untreated <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> biofilms were used as control. Asteriks indicate statistically significant (p< 0.05) differences between PGE<sub>2</sub>-treated and untreated biofilms. (<b>b</b>) Cultures of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> 19552 biofilms were supplemented with heat-treated (solid bars) and untreated (open bars) PGE<sub>2</sub> supplemented medium. Shown are the mean number of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> cfu`s normalized to the non-supplemented control as well as the standard deviations derived from two independent experiments and three replicates per experiment. Asterisks indicate significant (p< 0.05) differences between the groups.