Efficient resuscitation of early-stage viable but non-culturable cells of <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> using treatment with proteolytic enzymes.

ABSTRACT: Vibrio cholerae, the etiological agent of cholera, is ubiquitous in environmental brackish waters. Exposure to low water temperatures induces the bacterium to enter a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state. In this study, a stepwise decrease in water temperature to 4°C was found to delay the transition to the non-culturable state compared to an abrupt temperature drop, suggesting that V. cholerae cells partially adapt to low temperatures. V. cholerae VBNC cells maintained at 4°C gradually lost their ability to revert to a culturable state. However, VBNC cells in the early stage of dormancy were efficiently resuscitated following treatment with proteolytic enzymes, including proteinase K. The abundance of culturable V. cholerae cells in brackish estuarine waters

SUBMITTER: Miyoshi S-i 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12838185 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature