equipped with polarizing filters, temperature-controlled stage (Linkham) and camera (MaoSongtech, China). Monoolein cubic phase gel was prepared (as above) using monoolein and aqueous buffer (sterile or inoculated with S. aureus). A sample of each hydrated cubic phase was sandwiched between a glass microscope slide and coverslip. The appropriate aqueous buffer was transferred to the edges of the coverslip and drawn between the slides by capillary action. Three identical slides were made with sterile aqueous buffer, three with buffer inoculated with S. aureus, and a slide containing only aqueous buffer inoculated with S. aureus. The slides were sealed with 5-min epoxy (Selley's). To gather equilibrium data, each slide was imaged under cross-polarized light at t = 0 and again at t = +17 h. To gather kinetics data, one slide from the V₂-S. aureus test group was placed on a heated microscope stage (37 °C) and imaged under cross-polarized light at 6 min intervals for 17 h. All other replicates were imaged under broad-field and cross-polarized light before and after incubation at 37 °C for 17 h. Images were analysed using Image J software.