Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope:
For confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging we used a Zeiss Axio-Observer Z1 inverted microscope, equipped with a Pecon stage-top incubator with temperature, humidity, and CO2 control. The objective used was the 63x Zeiss Plan-Apochromat oil, 1.4 NA, DIC and the imaging was conducted without prior dilution. The samples were excited by a 488 nm argon-ion laser.