Figure 6: Decay curve plotted with cell number against stress exposure duration in the ultrapure water microcosm. Cell numbers were examined by (i) culture-based plate count; (ii) molecular techniques which targeted the 16S rRNA gene and (iii) molecular techniques which targeted the pbp5 gene. Molecular techniques included (A) qPCR without pretreatment; (B) qPCR with EMA pretreatment; and (C) qPCR with PMA pretreatment. A similar trend was observed in the environmental freshwater matrix.