Revealing potential functions of VBNC bacteria in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons biodegradation.

Abstract

As the vast majority microbial resource, viable but nonculturable (VBNC) bacteria, which showed their potential functions in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) biodegradation, can be of great significance in environmental bioremediation. It is therefore important to resuscitate VBNC bacteria for their better capabilities. Meanwhile, preventing the indigenous functional community from entering into the VBNC state will also maintain the high activity of PAH-degrading bacteria in actual bioremediation applications. Undoubtedly, much more work needs to be done to reveal indigenous micro-organisms in the VBNC state from the perspective of environmental functions.