BACKGROUND In this study we estimated the presence of Legionella species, viable but non-culturable (VBNC), in hospital water networks. We also evaluated the time and load of Legionella appearance in samples found negative using the standard culture method. METHODS A total of 42 samples was obtained from the tap water of five hospital buildings. The samples were tested for Legionella by the s...

The objective of this study was to develop a molecular detection method that better estimates the potential risk associated with the presence of Vibrio vulnificus. For that purpose, we applied seminested reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) to viable but nonculturable (VBNC) populations of V. vulnificus and targeted the cytotoxin-hemolysin virulence gene vvhA. Three strains, two environmental, IF...

Aquatic microbial ecologists have long recognized that portions of bacterial populations seem to disappear from natural water bodies during certain times of the year, only to reappear at other times. In the case of V. vulnificus, numerous studies have documented the difficulty researchers experience in culturing this bacterium during cold months, presumably due to “die-off” of the population. T...

Staphylococcus epidermidis is an opportunistic pathogen and, due to its ability to establish biofilms, is a leading causative agent of indwelling medical device-associated infection. The presence of high amounts of dormant bacteria is a hallmark of biofilms, making them more tolerant to antimicrobials and to the host immune response. We observed that S. epidermidis biofilms grown in excess gluc...

Accurate enumeration of bacterial count in probiotic formulation is imperative to ensure that the product adheres to regulatory standards and citation in consumer product label. Standard methods like plate count, can enumerate only replicating bacterial population under selected culture conditions. Viable but non culturable bacteria (VBNC) retain characteristics of living cells and can regain c...

Various non-spore forming bacteria, including Escherichia coli, enter a dormant-like state, the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state, characterized by the presence of viable cells but the inability to grow on routine laboratory media. Upon resuscitation, these VBNC cells recover both culturability and pathogenicity. In 2011, a large outbreak involving more than 3000 cases of bloody diarrhoea ...

The fate of two strains of Listeria monocytogenes and their ability to become viable but non-culturable (VBNC) was investigated in microcosms containing piggery effluents (two raw manures and two biologically treated manures) stored for 2 months at 8 and 20°C. Levels of L. monocytogenes were estimated using the culture method, qPCR, and propidium monoazide treatment combined with qPCR (qPCRPMA). ...

Alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit C (AhpC) is the catalytic subunit responsible for the detoxification of reactive oxygen species that form in bacterial cells or are derived from the host; thus, AhpC facilitates the survival of pathogenic bacteria under environmental stresses or during infection. This study investigates the role of AhpC in the induction and maintenance of a viable but noncu...

Abstract To cope with environmental stress, bacteria can enter resistant dormancy states such as the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state, in which cells do not divide remain alive potential to resuscitate. Present both food and clinical environments, VBNC are a serious health risk challenge for conventional analytical methods. By detecting growth-independent viability parameters, it is possi...

Discrepancies between the number of bacterial cells that can be detected by a direct counting method such as microscopy and the number that form colonies on standard media are regularly reported and extensively discussed (3). The observations of Anderson and colleagues concerning urine specimens (1) fall into this category and are without doubt of considerable interest and potential importance....