Escherichia coli O157:H7, a causative agent of haemolytic uremic syndrome, can enter into a viable but non‐culturable (VBNC) state in response to harsh stress. Bacteria in this state can retain membrane integrity, metabolic activity and virulence expression, which may present health risks. However, virulence expression and resuscitation ability of the VBNC state are not well understood. Here, we induced E. coli O157:H7 into a VBNC state by high temperature, which is commonly used to prevent the proliferation of pathogens in process of soil solarization, composting and anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. The virulence genes were highly expressed in the VBNC state and resuscitated daughter cells. The resuscitation of VBNC cells occurred after the removal of heat stress in Luria‐Bertani medium. In addition, E. coli O157: H7 cells can leave the VBNC state and resuscitate with the clearance of protein aggregates. Notably, with the accumulation of protein aggregation and increased levels of reactive oxygen species, cells lost their ability to resuscitate. The results of this study not only can facilitate a better understanding of the health risks associated with the VBNC state but also have the potential to provide a theoretical basis for thermal disinfection processing.

中文翻译：

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通过高温和复苏将大肠杆菌O157：H7诱导为可行但不可培养的状态。

大肠杆菌O157：H7是溶血性尿毒症综合征的病原体，可在严酷的压力下进入可行但不可培养的状态（VBNC）。这种状态的细菌可以保留膜的完整性，代谢活性和毒力表达，这可能会危害健康。但是，VBNC状态的毒力表达和复苏能力尚不十分清楚。在这里，我们诱导了大肠杆菌O157：H7在高温下变为VBNC状态，通常用于防止土壤日光化，堆肥和有机废物厌氧消化过程中病原体的扩散。毒力基因在VBNC状态和复苏的子细胞中高表达。在Luria-Bertani培养基中去除热应激后，VBNC细胞进行了复苏。另外，大肠杆菌O157：H7细胞可以离开VBNC状态并通过清除蛋白聚集体而复苏。值得注意的是，随着蛋白质聚集的积累和活性氧水平的提高，细胞丧失了复苏的能力。这项研究的结果不仅可以帮助人们更好地了解与VBNC状态有关的健康风险，而且还具有为热消毒过程提供理论基础的潜力。