The low degrading capability of microorganisms has limited the bioremediation of environments contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) around the e-waste recycling sites.In the present study, SRpf, a supematant containing the resuscitation-promoting factor (Rpf) of Micrococcus luteus, was used to explore the potential biphenyl-degrading capability of the uncultured or "viable but non-culturable" (VBNC) microbial community.The obtained results suggest that the enrichment culture produced by the addition of SRpf (enrichment culture treatment group, ECT) enhanced the efficiency of degradation of biphenyls, cell growth and microbial community diversity in the mixed-culture significantly.A concentration of 1500 mg/L biphenyls could be almost completely degraded in 24 h using SRpf at a dosage of 15% (v/v).Six strains were isolated in pure cultures with SRpf and determined to be uncultured bacteria from species of Arthrobacter, Rhodococcus, Chryseobacterium, Achromobacter and Alcaligenes.This study is a significant step in exploring the potential of uncultured or VBNC bacteria for environmental remediation, and for developing a novel efficient method for excavating and obtaining highly desirable pollutant-degrading microorganisms.