Viable but nonculturable

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Transmission electron micrographs of actively growing (panel A) and nonculturable (panel B) Yersinia pestis. Bar equals 0.5 microns. Journal.pone.0017585.g004.png
Transmission electron micrographs of actively growing (panel A) and nonculturable (panel B) Yersinia pestis . Bar equals 0.5 microns.

Viable but nonculturable (VBNC) bacteria refers as to bacteria that are in a state of very low metabolic activity and do not divide, but are alive and have the ability to become culturable once resuscitated. [1]

Bacteria in a VBNC state cannot grow on standard growth media, though flow cytometry can measure the viability of the bacteria. [1] Bacteria can enter the VBNC state as a response to stress, due to adverse nutrient, temperature, osmotic, oxygen, and light conditions. [1] The cells that are in the VBNC state are morphologically smaller, and demonstrate reduced nutrient transport, rate of respiration, and synthesis of macromolecules. [1] Sometimes, VBNC bacteria can remain in that state for over a year. [1] It has been shown that numerous pathogens and non-pathogens can enter the VBNC state, which therefore has significant implications in pathogenesis, bioremediation, and other branches of microbiology. [1]

The existence of the VBNC state is controversial. The validity and interpretation of the assays to determine the VBNC state have been questioned. [2]

VBNC pathogens

Species known to enter a VBNC state: [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Oliver JD (February 2005). "The viable but nonculturable state in bacteria". The Journal of Microbiology. 43 (special issue (No. S)): 93–100. PMID   15765062.
  2. Stokell JR, Steck TR (2012). "Viable but Nonculturable Bacteria". eLS. doi:10.1002/9780470015902.a0000407.pub2. ISBN   978-0470016176.
  3. Oliver JD (July 2010). "Recent findings on the viable but nonculturable state in pathogenic bacteria". FEMS Microbiol Rev. 34 (4): 415–25. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2009.00200.x . PMID   20059548.
  4. Capozzi V, Di Toro MR, Grieco F, Michelotti V, Salma M, Lamontanara A, et al. (2016). "Viable But Not Culturable (VBNC) state of Brettanomyces bruxellensis in wine: New insights on molecular basis of VBNC behaviour using a transcriptomic approach". Food Microbiology. 59: 196–204. doi:10.1016/j.fm.2016.06.007. PMID   27375260.
  5. Pazos-Rojas LA (July 2019). "Desiccation-induced viable but nonculturable state in Pseudomonas putida KT2440, a survival strategy". PLOS ONE. 17 (7): e0219554. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1419554P. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219554 . PMC   6641147 . PMID   31323038.
  6. Tirumalai M, Ali S, Fox GE, Widger W (August 2025). "Tersicoccus phoenicis (Actinobacteria), a spacecraft clean room isolate, exhibits dormancy". Microbiology Spectrum. 0: e01692-25. doi:10.1128/spectrum.01692-25. PMID   40788184.
  7. Pawlowski DR, Metzger DJ, Raslawsky A, Howlett A, Siebert G, Karalus RJ, et al. (2011). "Entry of Yersinia pestis into the viable but nonculturable state in a low-temperature tap water microcosm". PLOS ONE. 6 (3): e17585. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...617585P. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017585 . PMC   3059211 . PMID   21436885.