title: Global genome response of Escherichia coli O157∶H7 Sakai during dynamic changes in growth kinetics induced by an abrupt downshift in water activity.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to investigate growth kinetics and time-dependent change in global expression of Escherichia coli O157∶H7 Sakai upon an abrupt downshift in water activity (aw). Based on viable count data, shifting E. coli from aw 0.993 to aw 0.985 or less caused an apparent loss, then recovery, of culturability. Exponential growth then resumed at a rate characteristic for the aw imposed. To understand the responses of this pathogen to abrupt osmotic stress, we employed an integrated genomic and proteomic approach to characterize its cellular response during exposure to a rapid downshift but still within the growth range from aw 0.993 to aw 0.967. Of particular interest, genes and proteins with cell envelope-related functions were induced during the initial loss and subsequent recovery of culturability. This implies that cells undergo remodeling of their envelope composition, enabling them to adapt to osmotic stress. Growth at low aw, however, involved up-regulating additional genes and proteins, which are involved in the biosynthesis of specific amino acids, and carbohydrate catabolism and energy generation. This suggests their important role in facilitating growth under such stress. Finally, we highlighted the ability of E. coli to activate multiple stress responses by transiently inducing the RpoE and RpoH regulons to control protein misfolding, while simultaneously activating the master stress regulator RpoS to mediate long-term adaptation to hyperosmolality. This investigation extends our understanding of the potential mechanisms used by pathogenic E. coli to adapt, survive and grow under osmotic stress, which could potentially be exploited to aid the selection and/or development of novel strategies to inactivate this pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Food Safety Centre, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Chawalit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kocharunchitt
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Animal, Food and Health Sciences, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Animal, Food and Health Sciences, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gobius
authors.affiliation: Food Safety Centre, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.affiliation: Food Safety Centre, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009997:Osmotic Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D040901:Proteomics; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014867:Water