Time and temperature dependence of dye entry into viable and dead <i>Campylobacter</i> cells stained in PBS at 10⁶ bacterial counts/ml.

<p>ΔC_t-values from real-time PCR of DNA isolated from bacteria in the presence and absence of 20 µM of the respective intercalating dye. Squares, viable bacteria; circles, dead bacteria; blue, PMA; orange, EMA; open symbols with dotted lines, 5 min of incubation; closed symbols with filled lines, 15 min of incubation. Mean values and standard deviations are depicted from at least three independent experiments.