Fig. 3

Susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. and Borrelia garinii biofilm-like aggregates to the test lipids. Biofilm-like aggregates grown on collagen-coated surface were treated with the test lipid (oils at 0.15% including their active ingredients at 0.125% concentration, 13Z,16Z docosadienoic acid at concentration 0.5 mg/ml), for 72 h (a). Next, the percentage of eradication of biofilm mass was determined by crystal violet staining method. * p ≤ 0.05 compared to control. Representative live (green)/dead (red) merged images of biofilms of Borrelia burgdorferii s.s. and Borrelia garinii (b) after 72 h incubation period with eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, as the active compounds of the most effective oils, 13Z,16Z-docosadienoic acid, and daptomycin+cefoperazone+doxycycline (Dap+Cef + Dox) as a positive control, taken at 200 x magnification, stained with BacLight dye; scale bar 50 μm