[Resuscitation from the viable but nonculturable state of Helicobacter pylori]

It is well known that the change of state from the culturable to not culturable on pathogenic organisms could easily occurred. These states of bacteria were so called viable but nonculturable (VNC). The coccoid form of H. pylori is seems to be in this state. The possibility of resuscitation of H. pylori was examined in vitro. The coccoid form bacteria was treated with Ammonium Sulfate and heat shock before culture, and cultured in Brucella broth containing, sodium pyruvate, laked human erythrocyte and serum. The growth of the rod spiral form was found in the coccoid form bacteria, and further the bacteria could grow on blood agar and Skirrow agar as well as the original strain. It was strongly suggested that the resuscitation from VNC state of cells to culturable form consists of two processes, stimulation and supplemented of appropriate nutrition.