Transcriptional analysis of different stress response genes in Escherichia coli strains subjected to sodium chloride and lactic acid stress. Issue 2 (31st October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peng, Silvio; Stephan, Roger; Hummerjohann, Jörg; Tasara, Taurai
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology letters. Volume 361:Issue 2(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 131
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2014-10-31
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579
• DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12622
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-1097

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="fml12622-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Survival of <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> in food depends on its ability to adapt against encountered stress typically involving induction of stress response genes. In this study, the transcriptional induction of selected acid (<italic>cadA</italic>, <italic> speF</italic>) and salt (<italic>kdpA</italic>, <italic> proP</italic>, <italic> proW</italic>, <italic> otsA</italic>, <italic> betA</italic>) stress response genes was investigated among five <italic>E. coli</italic> strains, including three Shiga toxin‐producing strains, exposed to sodium chloride or lactic acid stress. Transcriptional induction upon lactic acid stress exposure was similar in all but one <italic>E. coli</italic> strain, which lacked the lysine decarboxylase gene <italic>cadA</italic>. In response to sodium chloride stress exposure, <italic>proW</italic> and <italic>otsA</italic> were similarly induced, while significant differences were observed between the <italic>E. coli</italic> strains in induction of <italic>kdpA</italic>, <italic> proP</italic> and <italic>betA</italic>. The <italic>kdpA</italic> and <italic>betA</italic> genes were significantly induced in four and three strains, respectively, whereas one strain did not induce these genes. The <italic>proP</italic> gene was only induced in two <italic>E. coli</italic> strains. Interestingly, transcriptional induction differences in response to sodium chloride stress exposure were associated with survival phenotypes observed for the <italic>E. coli</italic> strains in cheese as the <italic>E. coli</italic> strain lacking significant induction in three salt stress response genes investigated also survived poorly compared to the other <italic>E. coli</italic> strains in cheese.</p> </abstract>