Fig. 5: Effects of Mito-ortho-HNK and commonly used antibiotics on the bacterial membrane potential.

a, b E. faecalis was treated with Mito-ortho-HNK (a) or commonly used antibiotics (b), chloramphenicol [Cam] and ampicillin [Amp]) as indicated for 1 h. The effects on the membrane potential were measured by TMRM dye (50 nM), the fluorescence indicator, to determine the percentage change in TMRM fluorescence intensity between the control and treatments groups. The lower levels of TMRM fluorescence resulting from treatment reflect the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. Statistical significance was determined using a Student’s t test. **P < 0.01 vs control group at each collection time point. Data shown are the mean ± SD, n = 4. c, d E. faecalis was treated with Mito-ortho-HNK (c) or commonly used antibiotics (d) as indicated for 3 h, and cell death was monitored in real time by SYTOX Green staining. Data shown are the mean ± SD for n = 4.