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Stationary phase and mature infectious forms of L egionella pneumophila produce distinct viable but non‐culturable cells
Author(s) -
AlBana Badii H.,
Haddad Moreen T.,
Garduño Rafael A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12219
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , stationary phase , legionella pneumophila , bacteria , genetics , chemistry , chromatography
Summary L egionella pneumophila is an intracellular bacterial parasite of freshwater protozoa and an accidental waterborne human pathogen. L . pneumophila is highly pleomorphic showing several forms that differentiate within its developmental cycle. In water, L . pneumophila produces viable but non‐culturable cells ( VBNCCs ), which remain largely uncharacterized. We produced VBNCCs from two developmental forms of L . pneumophila [stationary phase forms ( SPFs ) and mature infectious forms ( MIFs )] in two water microcosms [double‐deionized (dd) and tap water] at 45° C . In contrast with SPFs , MIFs upheld a robust ultrastructure and high viability in the two water microcosms. In dd‐water, MIFs and SPFs lost their culturability faster than in tap water and did not consume their poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate inclusions. Resuscitation in A canthamoeba castellani was only possible for VBNCCs produced from SPFs in tap water. Addition of salts to dd‐water prolonged L . pneumophila culturability to tap water levels, suggesting that L . pneumophila requires ions to maintain its readiness to resume growth. VBNCCs resisted detergent lysis and digestion in the ciliate T etrahymena , except for VBNCCs produced from SPFs in dd‐water. L . pneumophila VBNCCs thus show distinct traits according to its originating developmental form and the surrounding water microcosm.