Thirty years of viable but nonculturable state research: unsolved molecular mechanisms

Viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells were recognized 30 years ago; and despite decades of research on the topic, most results are disperse and apparently incongruous. Since its description, a huge controversy arose regarding the ecological significance of this state: is it a degradation process without real significance for bacterial life cycles or is it an adaptive strategy of bacteria to cope with stressful conditions? In order to solve the molecular mechanisms of VBNC state induction and resuscitation, researchers in the field must be aware and overcome common issues delaying research progress. In this review, we discuss the intrinsic characteristic features of VBNC cells, the first clues on what is behind the VBNC state's induction, the models proposed for their resuscitation and the current methods to prove not only that cells are in VBNC state but also that they are able to resuscitate.