Comparative proteomic and phenotypic changes of LuxS‐mediated hyperosmotic tolerance in Cronobacter malonaticus

Abstract

Cronobacter malonaticus is a highly hyperosmotic‐resistant pathogen classified as Class A pathogen by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This study explored the roles of LuxS as a quorum‐sensing transcription factor in C. malonaticus to tolerate hyperosmotic stress, illustrating that LuxS contributed to survival, biofilm formation and reduced cellular injury when grown with 5.5% NaCl stress. Comparative proteomics between C. malonaticus WT and ΔluxS demonstrated that differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were abundant in Fe‐S cluster proteins and oxidoreductases, suggesting a potential cross‐tolerance mediated by LuxS could contribute to resisting hyperosmotic stress. Herein, these findings will provide valuable information on LuxS‐mediated osmotic tolerance to controlling C. malonaticus contamination.

Uncovering phenotypic changes of luxS‐mediated acid tolerance in Cronobacter malonaticus

“…Our previous studies revealed that gene luxS assisted Cronobacter to cope with abiotic stresses such as oxidative stress and hyperosmotic stress (Ou et al . 2023). The luxS had been shown to be central to enhance the resistance of acid, including, Streptococcus agalactiae ( S. agalactiae ).…”

“…Δ luxS strains in hypertonic environments possessed poorer survival and bacterial morphological integrity compared with wild strains (Ou et al . 2023). We found that the biofilm formation pattern by analysing the biofilm structure and quantitative results was similar to the AI‐2 secretion pattern, which increased first and then decreased.…”