Expression of stress regulator and virulence genes of Cronobacter sakazakii strain Yrt2a as a response to acid stress.

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of acid stress on the expression of stress regulator (grxB and rpoS) and virulence (ompA, hfq, and cpa) genes of Cronobacter sakazakii Yrt2a. The results showed that C. sakazakii Yrt2a experienced decrease in number during acid stress and was no longer culturable 90 min post exposure to pH 3.0. During acid stress, the expression of grxB, rpoS, ompA, cpa and hfq was upregulated by 2.15; 2.19; 1.55; 1.1 and 1.41 log, respectively. However, all genes expression was downregulated when the bacteria entered the unculturable state. The expression of gene grxB, rpoS, ompA, cpa decreased to 1.04; 0.37; 0.84 and 1.71 log, respectively; while hfq gene expression reached a level lower than that of control. This research implies a supposition that during acid stress, C. sakazakii was capable of maintaining its culturability and pathogenicity until they are no longer culturable. © The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 2020.