The resuscitation-promoting factor (Rpf) from and its putative reaction product 1,6-anhydro-MurNAc increase culturability of environmental bacteria.

Dormant bacterial cells do not divide and are not immediately culturable, but they persist in a state of low metabolic activity, a physiological state having clinical relevance, for instance in latent tuberculosis. Resuscitation-promoting factors (Rpfs) are proteins that act as signalling molecules mediating growth and replication. In this study we aimed to test the effect of Rpfs from on the number and diversity of cultured bacteria using insect and soil samples, and to examine if the increase in culturability could be reproduced with the putative reaction product of Rpf, 1,6-anhydro--acetylmuramic acid (1,6-anhydro-MurNAc).