Fig. 1
Change in size, fluorescence and culturability of Vibrio spp. strains entering in VBNC state. Changes detected by flow cytometry. A–D Cell size (FSC-A). E–H DNA quantity (green fluorescence (FL1-A) of cells stained with SYTO™ 9). I–L Green fluorescence (FL1-A) of cells stained with propidium iodide (PI). Over time, the cell size decreases, as well as the DNA quantity, which is proportional to the green fluorescence of SYTO™ 9; concomitantly, the green fluorescence induced by PI increases. M–N Decrease in culturability during incubation at 4 °C, according to the CFU numbers detected by plating cells on solid medium. CFU counts are reported as Log10(CFU + 1). A, E, I and M V. campbellii BAA-1117™ strain. B, F, J and N V. japonicus UU24 strain. C, G and K V. hepatarius UU21 strain. D, H and L V. japonicus M5 strain. Black line: microcosm at 3 days. Green line: microcosm at 50 days. Purple line: microcosm at 124 days