ENTRY INTO, AND RESUSCITATION FROM, THE VIABLE BUT NONCULTURABLE STATE BY VIBRIO-VULNIFICUS IN AN ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENT

Using plate counts, total cell counts, and direct viable counts, we ex amined the fate of cells of Vibrio vulnificus placed into natural estu arine waters during both winter and summer months. Cells inoculated in to membrane diffusion chambers and placed into estuarine waters entere d into a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state in January and February , when the water temperatures were low (average, <15 degrees C). In co ntrast, when cells in the VBNC state were placed into the same waters in the warmer months of August through November (average water tempera ture of ca. 21 degrees C), the cells appeared to undergo a rapid (typi cally, within 24 h) resuscitation to the fully culturable state. These results were independent of whether the cells were in the logarithmic or stationary phase and whether they were encapsulated or not. This s tudy indicates that the inability to isolate V. vulnificus from cold e stuarine sites may be accounted for by entrance of the tells into a VB NC state and that recovery from this state in natural environments may result from a temperature upshift.