ABSTRACT: Multiple infection sources for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 are known, including food of animal origin and produce. The ecology of this pathogen outside its human host is largely unknown. One third of its annotated genes still are hypothetical. To identify genetic determinants expressed under environmental factors, we applied strand-specific RNA-sequencing of strain E. coli EDL933 under 11 different biotic and abiotic conditions: LB medium at pH4, pH7, pH9, or at 15°C; LB with nitrite or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; LB-agar surface, M9 minimal medium, spinach leaf juice, surface of living radish sprouts, and cattle feces. Of 5379 annotated genes, only 144 are transcriptionally completely inactive under all conditions. Of 1,771 hypothetical genes, 1,672 exhibit significant transcriptional signals under at least one condition. The pathogenicity island LEE showed highest transcriptional activity in LB medium, minimal medium, and after treatment with antibiotics. Unique sets of genes, including many hypothetical genes, are highly up regulated on radish sprouts, cattle feces, or in the presence of antibiotics. For instance, azoR is biotechnologically important, but its environmental function has been elusive. This gene is highly active on radish sprouts. Further, we observed induction of the shiga-toxin carrying phages by antibiotics and confirmed active biofilm related genes on radish sprouts, in cattle feces, and on agar plates. Thus, environmental transcriptomics uncovers hitherto unknown gene functions and regulatory patterns of Escherichia coli O157:H7.
