College of Light Industry and Food Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Lingnan Specialty Food Science and Technology, Academy of Contemporary Agricultural Engineering Innovations, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China; Key Laboratory of Green Processing and Intelligent Manufacturing of Lingnan Specialty Food, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510225, China.
School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Trends Microbiol. 2023 Oct;31(10):1013-1023. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.04.009. Epub 2023 May 23.
As a unique microbial response to adverse circumstances, the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state is characterized by the loss of culturability of microbial cells on/in nutrient media that normally support their growth, while maintaining metabolic activity. These cells can resuscitate to a culturable state under suitable conditions. Given the intrinsic importance of the VBNC state and recent debates surrounding it, there is a need to redefine and standardize the term, and to address essential questions such as 'How to differentiate VBNC from other similar terms?' and 'How can VBNC cells be standardly and accurately determined?'. This opinion piece aims at contributing to an improved understanding of the VBNC state and promoting its proper handling as an underestimated and controversial microbial survival strategy.
作为一种对不利环境的独特微生物反应，存活但非可培养（VBNC）状态的特征是微生物细胞在通常支持其生长的营养培养基上/内丧失可培养性，同时保持代谢活性。这些细胞可以在合适的条件下复苏到可培养状态。鉴于 VBNC 状态的内在重要性以及围绕它的最近的争论，有必要重新定义和标准化该术语，并解决一些基本问题，例如“如何将 VBNC 与其他类似术语区分开来？”和“如何标准且准确地确定 VBNC 细胞？”。本文旨在提高对 VBNC 状态的理解，并促进将其作为一种被低估和有争议的微生物生存策略进行妥善处理。
