A simple, quantitative assay for the detection of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria
Ignacio Servando Arvizu, Sean R. Murray
Abstract
This protocol determines the fraction of a bacterial population that is viable and culturable, viable and non-culturable, or non-viable (dead). Each population is detected by isolating colonies on agar plates, performing direct counts, and staining for live or dead cells. Its application is limited to bacteria that are stainable and when permissible growth conditions are known. The quantitative data extracted allow for the detection of a viable but non-culturable (alive and non-dividing) population from a liquid culture. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Stott et al. (2015).
Topics & Concepts
BacteriaMicrobiologyBiologyAgarPopulationAgar plateStainingLiquid mediumChemistryChromatographyGeneticsMedicineEnvironmental healthMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyVibrio bacteria research studiesBacterial biofilms and quorum sensing