Effects of repeated cycles of acid challenge and growth on the phenotype and virulence of Salmonella enterica.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate how stresses like low pH, which may be encountered in farms or food preparation premises, shape populations of Salmonella enterica by the selection of stress-resistant variants.


RESULTS
Stationary-phase cultures of S. enterica serovar Enteritidis and serovar Typhimurium (one strain of each) were exposed to pH 2.5 for up to 4 h, followed by growth at pH 7 for 48 h. This process was repeated 15 times in two separate experiments, which increased the acid resistance of the three out of four populations we obtained, by three- to fourfold. Sustainable variants derived from the populations showed changes in colony morphology, expression of SEF17 fimbriae, growth, increased heat resistance and reduced virulence.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates that low pH environments can select for populations of S. enterica with persistent phenotypic changes such as increased acid resistance and occasionally increased SEF17 expression and lower virulence.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a common belief that increased acid resistance coincides with increased virulence. This study demonstrates for the first time that increased acid resistance often impairs virulence and affects the general phenotype of S. enterica.
Karatzas
K A G
KA
Zoonotic Infections Group, Veterinary Pathology, Infection and Immunity, School of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, UK. Kimon-Andreas.Karatzas@nuigalway.ie
Hocking
P M
PM
Jørgensen
F
F
Mattick
K
K
Leach
S
S
Humphrey
T J
TJ
D000143:Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000143:Acids; D003470:Culture Media; D005353:Fibronectins