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. 2016 May 4;5(1):368. doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v5i1.368

TABLE 5.

Pathogenic Escherichia coli known to enter the viable but non-culturable state.

Pathogenic strain Mechanism(s) of induction into the VBNC state Reference
Enterotoxigenic E. coli Salt water; sunlight; starvation 44, 45, 55
Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli Oxidative stress (H2O2); High Pressure CO2; salt water; chlorination; starvation 10, 11, 13, 35, 43, 55
Enteropathogenic E. coli Starvation 55
Enteroaggregative E. coli Starvation and/or copper ion treatment; chlorination 56

VBNC, viable but non-culturable.