Table 3 . Cellular metabolic status during infection and persistence. Cellular metabolic status was determined using the MTT assay. Data are the mean of at least 8 independent experiments and are expressed as the percent variation with respect to the cellular metabolic status detected in control, uninfected cells (100%).A. Cellular metabolic status 3h p.i. B. cellular metabolic status at 24h p.i. Statistical significance was assessed using ANOVA and Sidak’s multiple comparisons test (post hoc test): significant (S)*p ≤ 0.05 vs no bacteria; highly significant (HS) ** p < 0.01 vs no bacteria; extremely significant (ES) ***p ≤ 0.001 vs no bacteria; extremely significant (ES) ###p ≤ 0.001vs ATCC12598; extremely significant (ES) θθθp ≤ 0.001 vs ST239-SCCmec III.