Yersinia pestis Enters the VBNC State
Author Information
Author(s): David R. Pawlowski, Daniel J. Metzger, Amy Raslawsky, Amy Howlett, Gretchen Siebert, Richard J. Karalus, Stephanie Garrett, Chris A. Whitehouse
Primary Institution: CUBRC, Inc.
Hypothesis
Can Yersinia pestis enter into the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state after prolonged exposure in low-temperature tap water?
Conclusion
Yersinia pestis can enter a viable but non-culturable state in low-temperature tap water, which may have implications for its persistence in the environment.
Supporting Evidence
- Yersinia pestis became nonculturable after 21 days in low-temperature tap water.
- Cells remained viable as indicated by membrane integrity and metabolic activity.
- Morphological changes consistent with the VBNC state were observed under electron microscopy.
Takeaway
Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes plague, can survive in water without being able to grow, which means it can still be alive but not detectable by normal lab tests.
Methodology
The study involved exposing Yersinia pestis to low-temperature tap water and assessing its culturability and viability using various methods including membrane integrity tests and electron microscopy.
Limitations
The study did not determine the exact number of cells in the VBNC state, making it difficult to assess the full extent of viability.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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