Transcriptomic Analysis of Cronobacter sakazakii Maintaining Dormancy Continuum under Ampicillin Stress
Article
Figures
Metrics
Preview PDF
Reference
Related
Cited by
Materials
Abstract:
Cronobacter sakazakii is a common food-borne pathogen in milk powder, which enters the state of dormancy continuum under stress. Transcriptome sequencing was used in the present study to analyze the changes in gene expression in bacteria maintaining dormancy continuum formed under ampicillin stress. A total of 220 and 416 genes were significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Next, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on differentially expressed genes. Genes related to metabolic activity, motility (flagellar synthesis), and cell division were significantly downregulated in general. Meanwhile, certain genes related to drug efflux pumps and cell morphological changes were significantly upregulated. Similarly, the GO enrichment analysis indicated that genes related to the stringent response and toxin-antitoxin system (TAS) were significantly upregulated. In particular, TAS may promote the formation of dormancy continuum by regulating downstream mRNAs and NAD+. Therefore, stringent response under ampicillin stress may activate TAS expression through cascade regulation, thereby promoting the formation of dormancy continuum. Under stress, C. sakazakii maintains dormancy continuum by reducing metabolic activity, weakening motility, inhibiting cell division, changing cell morphology, and enhancing drug efflux. These findings lay a theoretical foundation for the prevention and control of the dormancy continuum of C. sakazakii under stress.
