The endogenous autolysin lytABC was deleted. Autolysin expression can be controlled by an IPTG-inducible promoter. Cells were left uninduced. “Motile” cells express YFP and are false colored in magenta. “Sessile” cells express CFP and are false colored in cyan. Cells are immobilized on a Tris agarose pad. Upon exposure to NaCl motile cells do not lyse and both cell-types recover upon exposure to salt-free LB (nutrient upshift). Movie shows superimposed brightfield and fluorescence micrographs before addition of NaCl, followed by brightfield micrographs only. A substantial fraction of both cell types resumes growth upon exposure to salt-free LB. Strain: BIB2330: ∆lytABC bglS:: PtapA-CFP TgyrA Phag-YFP amyE:: Phyperspank-lytABC lacI. Scale bar: 10 µm.