Hello all,

I recently read about bacteria being able to enter a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. I'm not familiar with subject of VBNC and so I should firstly ask if this is a binary 'on/off' state that the bacteria enters or if it's scalar and relative to its surrounding conditions? ('lower' metabolism isn't very definitive)

My primary question is that if the bacteria has entered VBNC can a virus still use the host cell's mechanisms to (i) replicate and (ii) spread infection?

I would appreciate any thoughts on the subject and possibly any reading material related to viruses and their interactions with VBNC pathogens.

~ Samantha CS Lee