Transient Temperature Up-Shift Suppresses the Loss of Culturability of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Stressed by Low Temperature and Nutrient Deficiency

Abstract

We examined the effect of a transient temperature up-shift on Vibrio parahaemolyticus cells that had been stressed by cold and nutrient-deficient conditions. Under these stressful conditions, V. parahaemolyticus entered into a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state. The number of colony forming units (CFU) decreased exponentially with time, whereas the total cell count and the viable cell count remained almost constant. When the cells were exposed to a temperature of 30°C for 20 min, the decrease in the number of CFU was suppressed. This effect was dependent on the growth phase. Addition of nalidixic acid, rifampicin, or erythromycin negated the effect.