Escherichia coli acid resistance: tales of an amateur acidophile.
Gastrointestinal pathogens are faced with an extremely acidic environment. Within moments, a pathogen such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 can move from the nurturing pH 7 environment of a hamburger to the harsh pH 2 milieu of the stomach. Surprisingly, certain microorganisms that grow at neutral pH have elegantly regulated systems that enable survival during excursions into acidic environments. The best-characterized acid-resistance system is found in E. coli.
Foster
John W
JW
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, Alabama 36695, USA. fosterj@sungcg.usouthal.edu
D000143:Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D017920:Antiporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017136:Ion Transport; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D018892:Proton-Motive Force / Q000502:physiology
D000143:Acids; D017920:Antiporters; D002712:Chlorides; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D001120:Arginine