Inability of Escherichia coli to resuscitate from the viable but nonculturable state

After induction of the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state in Escherichia coli populations, we analysed abiotic and biotic factors suggested to promote the resuscitation process. The response to the stressing conditions implied the formation of three subpopulations, culturable, VBNC and nonviable. In most adverse situations studied, the VBNC subpopulation did not represent the dominant fraction, decreasing with time. This suggests that, in most cases, the VBNC is not a successful phenotype. Combining methods of dilution and inhibition of remaining culturable cells, we designed a working protocol in order to distinguish unequivocally between regrowth and resuscitation. Reversion of abiotic factors inducing nonculturability as well as prevention of additional oxidative stress did not provoke resuscitation. Participation of biotic factors was studied by addition of supernatants from different origin without positive results. These results indicate that the E. coli strain used is not able to resuscitate from the VBNC state. VBNC cells release into the surrounding medium, and could thus aid in the survival of persisting culturable cells. The formation of a VBNC subpopulation could thus be considered as an adaptive process, designed for the benefit of the population as a whole.     

Resuscitation of Escherichia coli VBNC cells depends on a variety of environmental or chemical stimuli

Aims: To analyse viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state induction in Escherichia coli and resuscitation of VBNC suspensions in several conditions. Methods and Results: VBNC were induced in four media, two temperatures and six strains, but only cells produced at 4°C were able to resuscitate. Resuscitation of 14 VBNC suspensions obtained in several conditions occurred in the presence of supernatants of growing cells, in minimal medium supplemented with amino acids or after temperature change, depending on strain. A limited time period beyond no more resuscitation that could be observed was also confirmed. Conclusions: The supernatants positive effect is suggested to be because of a nonproteinaceous molecule, and a combination of methionine, glutamine, threonine, serine and asparagine could be used as primary mix for resuscitation experiments. Significance and Impact of the Study: Escherichia coli resuscitation was already attempted in several conditions, but it is the first time that a positive result was observed in minimal medium supplemented with amino acids or after temperature change. The role of amino acids in resuscitation is of special interest since was never reported for any species.     

Changes in Escherichia coli outer membrane subproteome under environmental conditions inducing the viable but nonculturable state

Changes in the outer membrane subproteome of Escherichia coli along the transition to the viable but nonculturable state (VBNC) were studied. The VBNC state was triggered by exposure of E. coli cells to adverse conditions such as aquatic systems, starvation, suboptimal temperature, visible light irradiation and seawater. The subproteome, obtained according to Molloy et al ., was analysed at the beginning of exposure (inoculum, phase 1), after a variable exposure time (95% of population culturable, phase 2) and when populations were mainly in the VBNC state (95% of cells VBNC, phase 3). Proteome changes were dependent on adverse conditions inducing the transition and were detected mainly in phase 2. The permanence of E. coli cells in seawater under illumination conditions entailed a dramatic rearrangement of the outer membrane subproteome involving 106 new spots, some of which could be identified by peptide fingerprinting. However, proteins exclusive to the VBNC state were not detected.     

氧化压力下沙门氏菌可培养性检测及其活的非可培养状态形成情况

【背景】氧化压力会导致细菌进入活的非可培养(viable but non-culturable,VBNC)状态,菌落形成能力可能受到亚致死损伤的影响。目前对于VBNC态细菌的定量检测是基于活菌数与可培养数的差值,因此可培养数的检测对于VBNC态定量研究很关键,培养基组成不合适可能会造成漏检。【目的】分析培养基组成对氧化压力下亚致死损伤细菌检测的重要影响;探究常见食源性致病菌肠炎沙门氏菌在氧化压力下形成VBNC态的情况。【方法】分别采用Luria-Bertani (LB)、beef peptone yeast (BPY)和Salmonella Shigella (SS)培养基检测并比较肠炎沙门氏菌的可培养数;采用RT-qPCR、荧光染色-激光共聚焦显微镜观测氧化压力下肠炎沙门氏菌形成VBNC态的情况。【结果】非选择性培养基LB和BPY能检出亚致死细菌,SS培养基中牛胆盐导致可培养数减少;肠炎沙门氏菌经53°C过氧化氢处理1.5 h后进入VBNC态的比例显著高于53°C过氧化氢+亚铁离子和过氧化氢+柠檬酸处理(P<0.05)。【结论】在对VBNC态的检测中应选择合适的固体培养基检测可...     

A recombinant bacteriophage-based assay for the discriminative detection of culturable and viable but nonculturable Escherichia coli O157:H7

A previously green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled PP01 virulent bacteriophage, specific to Escherichia coli O157:H7, was used to construct lysozyme-inactivated GFP-labeled PP01 phage (PP01e-/GFP). The new recombinant phage lacked lytic activity because of the inactivation of gene e, which produces the lysozyme responsible for cell lysis. Gene e was inactivated by inserting an amber stop codon. Prolonged incubation of E. coli O157:H7 cells with PP01e-/GFP did not lead to cell lysis, while the propagation of PP01e-/GFP in host cells increased the intensity of green fluorescence. Retention of cell morphology and increase in fluorescence enabled the direct visualization and enumeration of E. coli O157:H7 cells within an hour. The PP01e-/GFP system, when combined with nutrient uptake analysis, further allowed the discriminative detection of culturable, viable but nonculturable (VBNC), and dead cells in the stress-induced aquatic environment. Stress-induced cells, which retained culturability, allowed phage propagation and produced bright green florescence. Nonculturable cells (VBNC and dead) allowed only phage adsorption but no proliferation and remained low fluorescent. The low-fluorescent nonculturable cells were further differentiated into VBNC and dead cells on the basis of nutrient uptake analysis. The low-fluorescent cells, which grew in size by nutrient incorporation during prolonged incubation in nutrient medium, were defined as metabolically active and in the VBNC state. The elongated VBNC cells were then easily recognizable from dead cells. The proposed assay enabled the detection and quantification of VBNC cells. Additionally, it revealed the proportion of culturable to VBNC cells within the population, as opposed to conventional techniques, which demonstrate VBNC cells as a differential value of the total viable count and the culturable cell count.     

Quorum sensing regulation confronts the development of a viable but non-culturable state in Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae can enter a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state when it encounters unfavourable environments; VBNC cells serve as important reservoirs and still pose threats to public health. The genetic regulation of V. cholerae entering its VBNC state is not well understood. Here, we show a confrontation strategy adapted by V. cholerae O1 in which it utilizes a quorum sensing (QS) system to prevent transition into a VBNC state under low nutrition and temperature conditions. The upregulation of hapR resulted in a prolonged culturable state of V. cholerae in artificial sea water at 4°C, whereas the mutation of hapR led to fast entry into the VBNC state. We also observed that different V. cholerae O1 natural isolates with distinct QS functions present a variety of abilities to maintain culturability during the transition to a VBNC state. The strain groups with higher or constitutive expression of QS genes exhibit a greater tendency to maintain the culturable state during VBNC induction than those lacking QS functional groups. In summary, HapR-mediated QS regulation is associated with the transition to the VBNC state in V. cholerae. HapR expression causes V. cholerae to resist VBNC induction and become dominant over competitors in changing environments.     

Characterization of the Viable but Nonculturable (VBNC) State in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Viable But Non Culturable (VBNC) state has been thoroughly studied in bacteria. In contrast, it has received much less attention in other microorganisms. However, it has been suggested that various yeast species occurring in wine may enter in VBNC following sulfite stress.In order to provide conclusive evidences for the existence of a VBNC state in yeast, the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to enter into a VBNC state by applying sulfite stress was investigated. Viable populations were monitored by flow cytometry while culturable populations were followed by plating on culture medium. Twenty-four hours after the application of the stress, the comparison between the culturable population and the viable population demonstrated the presence of viable cells that were non culturable. In addition, removal of the stress by increasing the pH of the medium at different time intervals into the VBNC state allowed the VBNC S. cerevisiae cells to “resuscitate”. The similarity between the cell cycle profiles of VBNC cells and cells exiting the VBNC state together with the generation rate of cells exiting VBNC state demonstrated the absence of cellular multiplication during the exit from the VBNC state. This provides evidence of a true VBNC state. To get further insight into the molecular mechanism pertaining to the VBNC state, we studied the involvement of the SSU1 gene, encoding a sulfite pump in S. cerevisiae. The physiological behavior of wild-type S. cerevisiae was compared to those of a recombinant strain overexpressing SSU1 and null Δssu1 mutant. Our results demonstrated that the SSU1 gene is only implicated in the first stages of sulfite resistance but not per se in the VBNC phenotype. Our study clearly demonstrated the existence of an SO₂-induced VBNC state in S. cerevisiae and that the stress removal allows the “resuscitation” of VBNC cells during the VBNC state.     

Resuscitation rate in different enterococcal species in the viable but non-culturable state

AIMS: The viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state is a survival strategy adopted by bacteria when exposed to environmental stress. When in this state bacteria are no longer culturable on conventional growth media, but cells display metabolic activity and maintain pathogenicity factors/genes and, in some cases, resuscitation from the VBNC state has been shown. This state has been described for both human pathogens and faecal pollution indicators. In this study, we present evidence for entry of different enterococcal species into the VBNC state in an oligotrophic microcosm. METHODS AND RESULTS: The duration of the viability of the cells in the VBNC state was measured either by detecting the presence of pbp5 mRNA or by quantifying their resuscitation capability. Enterococci showed different behaviours. Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus hirae entered into the VBNC state within 2 weeks and remained in that state for 3 months. In the experiments described the resuscitation rate was 1:10 000 cells as soon as the cells entered the VBNC state and decreased gradually to undetectable levels over the following 3 months. Enterococcus faecium, however, remained culturable up to 4 weeks. After this time period, when the population was totally unculturable, the cells were far less resuscitable than other enterococci and only over a narrow time interval (2 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Ent. faecalis and Ent. hirae enter the VBNC state but that Ent. faecium, in an oligotrophic laboratory environment, tends to die instead of entering the VBNC state. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These experiments may mimic what happens when enterococci are released by humans and animals in natural environments.     

Effect of Phosphorus on survival of Escherichia coli in drinking water biofilms

The effect of phosphorus addition on survival of Escherichia coli in an experimental drinking water distribution system was investigated. Higher phosphorus concentrations prolonged the survival of culturable E. coli in water and biofilms. Although phosphorus addition did not affect viable but not culturable (VBNC) E. coli in biofilms, these structures could act as a reservoir of VBNC forms of E. coli in drinking water distribution systems.     

Chemical composition of labile fractions in DOM

Dissolved organic matter in natural water was classified into a labile and a refractory fraction according to the decomposition properties for microorganisms. In decomposition experiments of dissolved organic matter from an eutrophic small lake in Japan, dissolved amino acids and dissolved carbohydrates fractions could be confirmed to be the labile fractions of dissolved organic matter.Tokyo Metropolian University, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science     

Involvement of rpoS in the survival of Escherichia coli in the viable but non-culturable state

When exposed to stress-provoking environmental conditions such as those of ground waters, many medically important bacteria have been shown to be capable of activating a survival strategy known as the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state. In this state bacteria are no longer culturable on conventional growth media, but the cells maintain their viability and pathogenicity genes/factors and can start dividing again, in a part of the cell population, upon restoration of favourable environmental conditions. Little is known about the genetic mechanisms underlying the VBNC state. In this study we show evidence of involvement of the rpoS gene in persistence of Escherichia coli in the VBNC state. The kinetics of entry into the non-culturable state and duration of cell viability were measured in two E. coli mutants carrying an inactivated rpoS gene and compared with those of the parents. For these experiments, laboratory microcosms consisting of an artificial oligotrophic medium incubated at 4 degrees C were used. The E. coli parental strains reached the non-culturable state in 33 days when the plate counts were evaluated on Luria-Bertani agar containing sodium pyruvate, whereas cells of the rpoS mutants lost their culturability in only 21 days. Upon reaching unculturability the parents yielded respiring cells and cells with intact membranes for at least the next three weeks and resuscitation was allowed during this time. In contrast, the RpoS- mutant cells demonstrated intact membranes for only two weeks and a very restricted (<7 days) resuscitation capability. Guanosine 3',5'-bispyrophosphate (ppGpp) acts as a positive regulator during the production and functioning of RpoS. A mutant deficient in ppGpp production behaved like the rpoS mutants, while overproducers of ppGpp displayed a vitality at least comparable to that of RpoS+ strains. These results suggest that the E. coli parental strains enter the VBNC state which lasts for, at least, three weeks, after which apparently all the cells die. The rpoS mutants do not activate this survival strategy and early die. This implies involvement of the rpoS gene in E. coli persistence in the VBNC state.     

Growth and release of extracellular organic compounds by benthic diatoms depend on interactions with bacteria

Phototrophic epilithic biofilms harbour a distinct assemblage of heterotrophic bacteria, cyanobacteria and photoautotrophic algae. Secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by these organisms and the physicochemical properties of the EPS are important factors for the development of the biofilms. We have isolated representative diatom and bacteria strains from epilithic biofilms of Lake Constance. By pairwise co-cultivating these strains we found that diatom growth and EPS secretion by diatoms may depend on the presence of individual bacteria. Similar results were obtained after addition of spent bacterial medium to diatom cultures, suggesting that soluble substances from bacteria have an impact on diatom physiology. While searching for putative bacterial signal substances, we found that concentrations of various dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) within the diatom cultures changed drastically during co-cultivation with bacteria. Further, the secretion of extracellular carbohydrates and proteins can be influenced by bacteria or their extracellular substances. We have performed mass spectrometric peptide mapping to identify proteins which are secreted when co-cultivating the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin and Escherichia coli. The identified proteins are possibly involved in signalling, extracellular carbohydrate modification and uptake, protein and amino acid modification, and cell/cell aggregation of diatom and bacteria strains. Our data indicate that diatom-bacteria biofilms might be regulated by a complex network of chemical factors involving EPS, amino acid monomers and other substances. Thus interactions with bacteria can be considered as one of the main factors driving biofilm formation by benthic diatoms.     

细菌“活的不可培养状态”的生态意义及研究进展

"活的不可培养(VBNC)"状态是细菌在不良条件下的一种生存方式.VBNC状态作为细菌的一种生理状态,对传统微生物学产生了深远的影响.进入VBNC状态的细胞发生了一系列变化,无法继续用常规培养方法检测,在医学健康,环境科学等领域产生了巨大的影响,改进检测方法具有重要的意义.本文介绍了进入VBNC状态细菌在DNA、蛋白质组成等方面发生的变化,复苏过程.同时还介绍了VBNC状态的最新检测方法,最后对VBNC状态未来的研究方法进行了讨论.     

Resuscitation of Vibrio vulnificus from the Viable but Nonculturable State

Like many other gram-negative bacteria, the human pathogen Vibrio vulnificus is induced into a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state by incubation at low temperatures. The ability of any bacterium to resuscitate from this dormant state would appear to be essential if the VBNC state is truly a survival strategy. The question as to whether the culturable cells which appear following removal of the inducing stress are a result of true resuscitation or of regrowth of a few residual culturable cells has long been debated. V. vulnificus was examined for its ability to resuscitate from this state following a temperature upshift. Several lines of investigation, including dilution studies, determination of the time necessary for appearance of a culturable population, and the effects of nutrient on recovery, all indicated that, at least for V. vulnificus, true resuscitation does occur. Our studies further suggest that nutrient is in some way inhibitory to the resuscitation of cells in the VBNC state and that studies which add nutrient in an attempt to detect resuscitation are able to detect only residual culturable cells which might be present and which were not inhibited by the added nutrient.     

Conversion of viable but nonculturable enteric bacteria to culturable by co-culture with eukaryotic cells

Viable but nonculturable (VBNC) Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139, V. parahaemolyticus, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, enterotoxigenic E. coli, enteropathogenic E. coli, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella enterica were converted to the culturable state by co-culture with selected eukaryotic cells, e.g., HT-29, Caco-2, T84, HeLa, Intestine 407, and CHO cells.     

Wall loss and origin of soluble carbohydrates during mating of Chlamydomonas reinhardi

In the mating reaction between gametes of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardi, a lytic factor which solubilizes the cell wall is released. It has been shown that carbohydrates accumulate in the supernatant of mating gametes. We present here data which support the notion that the released carbohydrates arise from solubilized gametic cell walls. The evidence is based, in part, on the comparison of the carbohydrates and amino acids in the acid hydrolysates of cell-free supernatants to the reported composition of isolated cell walls. In both cases the three predominant sugars are mannose, arabinose and galactose, and also, in both cases, large amounts of the amino acid hydroxyproline are present. In addition, it is shown that if gametic cell walls are removed prior to mating interactions by treatment with a preparation of lytic factor, much less carbohydrate is subsequently released into the supematant, when such ‘nake’ gametes are mated.     

细菌有活力但不可培养状态及其机制研究进展

有活力但不可培养(viable but non-culturable,VBNC)状态是细菌遭遇逆境时进入的一种特殊状态,该状态下的菌体在条件适宜时可复苏并恢复其致病性,被认为是细菌躲避不良环境的一种生存策略。VBNC状态菌体对人类医学和工农业生产具有巨大的潜在威胁,开展关于VBNC状态的检测及诱导、复苏及其机制研究可为减少或避免该状态细菌的危害提供理论基础。本文简要综述了细菌VBNC状态在诱导、复苏及致病性等方面的研究进展,并结合本实验室及国内外相关团队近年来在植物病原细菌VBNC状态研究中的结果,详细总结了VBNC状态细菌的形成和复苏机制,对植物病原细菌在环境胁迫下的存活机制、病害田间初侵染来源分析及VBNC状态菌体在病害循环中的作用等相关研究具有重要参考意义。     

Identification of heat-stable A-factor from Myxococcus xanthus.

The asg mutants of Myxococcus xanthus fail to produce a set of related substances called A-factor. A-factor is released into the medium and is required early in fruiting body development. Lacking A-factor, the asg mutants are defective in aggregation, sporulation, and expression of most genes whose products appear later than 1 h after development is induced by starvation. Previous work has shown that these defects are reversed when A-factor, released by developing wild-type cells, is added to asg mutant cells. Part of the material in conditioned medium with A-factor activity is heat stable and dialyzable. This low-molecular-weight A-factor consists of a mixture of amino acids and peptides. Fifteen single amino acids have A-factor activity, and 11 of these are found in conditioned medium. Mixtures of amino acids have a total activity approximately equal to the sum of the activities of their constituents. Conditioned medium also contains peptides with A-factor activity. Pure peptides have A-factor activity, and their specific activities are equal to or less than the sum of the activities of their constituent amino acids. There is no evidence for a specialized A-factor peptide in conditioned medium, one with a specific activity greater than the sum of its constituent amino acids. About half of the heat-stable A-factor activity in conditioned medium can be accounted for by free amino acids, and the remaining half can be accounted for by peptides. It is argued that heat-stable A-factor induces A-dependent gene expression not by the nutritional action of amino acids but through a chemosensory circuit.     

Green fluorescent protein-based direct viable count to verify a viable but non-culturable state of Salmonella typhi in environmental samples.

The gfp-tagging method and lux-tagging method were compared to select a better method for verifying a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state of bacteria in the environment. An environmental isolate of Salmonella typhi was chromosomally marked with a gfp gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP). The hybrid transposon mini-Tn5 gfp was transconjugated from E. coli to S. typhi. Using the same method, S. typhi was chromosomally marked with luxAB genes encoding luciferase. The survival of gfp-tagged S. typhi introduced into groundwater microcosms was examined by GFP-based plate count, total cell count, and a direct viable count method. In microcosms containing lux-tagged S. typhi, luminescence-based plate count and the measurement of bioluminescence of each microcosm sample were performed. In microcosms containing lux-tagged S. typhi, viable but nonculturable cells could not be detected by using luminometry. As no distinguishable luminescence signals from the background signals were found in samples containing no culturable cells, a VBNC state of S. typhi could not be verified in lux-based systems. However, comparison between GFP-based direct viable counts and plate counts was a good method for verifying the VBNC state of S. typhi. Because GFP-based direct viable count method provided a direct and precise estimation of viable cells of introduced bacteria into natural environments, it can be used for verifying the VBNC state of bacteria in environmental samples.     

Stepwise changes in viable but nonculturable Vibrio cholerae cells

Many bacterial species are known to become viable but nonculturable (VBNC) under conditions that are unsuitable for growth. In this study, the requirements for resuscitation of VBNC‐state Vibrio cholerae cells were found to change over time. Although VBNC cells could initially be converted to culturable by treatment with catalase or HT‐29 cell extract, they subsequently entered a state that was not convertible to culturable by these factors. However, fluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of live cells in this state, from which VBNC cells were resuscitated by co‐cultivation with HT‐29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. Ultimately, all cells entered a state from which they could not be resuscitated, even by co‐cultivation with HT‐29. These characteristic changes in VBNC‐state cells were a common feature of strains in both V. cholerae O1 and O139 serogroups. Thus, the VBNC state of V. cholerae is not a single property but continues to change over time.