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Induction of Viable but Nonculturable (VBNC) state and the effect of multiple subculturing on the survival ofLegionella pneumophila strains in the presence of monochloramine

  • Applied Microbiology
  • Original Articles
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Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the response of two differentLegionella pneumophila strains with their 20 times subcultured passages, regarding VBNC induction and to test the effect of multiple subculturing on cell vulnerability in the presence of monochloramine. A freshly opened ofL. pneumophila ATCC 33152, a first subculture of environmental isolate ofL. pneumophila and the 20th subcultures of both strains were tested for survival in the presence of different doses of monochloramine (24 hours). Besides culture method, live-dead cells were visualised. It was found that multiple subcultured strains were significantly more susceptible to monochloramine and not capable of entering to VBNC state in comparison with freshly opened/isolated strains. Environmental isolate was survived at 2 ppm dose of monochloramine after 24 h, whereas 20th subculture of this strain failed to survive. Multiple subculturedL. pneumophila strains were lost their culturability and viability significantly. This phenomenon should be considered while working with laboratory strains. After monochloramine disinfection,L. pneumophila bacteria can completely lose their cultivability but do not lose viability, which remains responsible for serious outbreaks worldwide. Even after completely loosing cultivability, it is possible to find live cells in network water in the VBNC state.

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  1. Department of Biology, Istanbul Univeristy, Faculty of Science, 34134, Vezneciler Istanbul, Turkey

    Irfan Turetgen

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  1. Irfan Turetgen
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Correspondence to Irfan Turetgen.

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Turetgen, I. Induction of Viable but Nonculturable (VBNC) state and the effect of multiple subculturing on the survival ofLegionella pneumophila strains in the presence of monochloramine. Ann. Microbiol. 58, 153–156 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179460

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179460

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