Project description:Red fruits are valued for their vitamin C and polyphenol content, but traditional heat preservation methods used in juice and nectar production can significantly reduce these components. Therefore, alternative non-thermal methods are explored to inactivate foodborne pathogens like Escherichia coli while maintaining the nutritional value. However, knowledge about the effects of these technologies on bacterial cells is limited. This study analyzed differentially expressed genes of E. coli ATCC 8739 inoculated in strawberry nectar after exposure to three treatments with two sets of parameters each, namely thermal treatment, high-pressure processing (HPP), and moderate-intensity pulsed electric field (MIPEF). The highest inactivation efficiency was achieved with HPP at 400 MPa, 1 min, reducing microbial counts by 5.0±0.3 log cfu/mL, and thermal treatment at 60°C, 200 s, achieving a reduction of 4.4±0.2 log cfu/mL, while no inactivation was observed with MIPEF at 6 kV/cm. Transcriptomic analysis showed that thermal and HPP treatments caused similar molecular stress responses in E. coli. In both cases, the most overexpressed genes encoded outer membrane proteins, which may lead to the activation of the envelope stress response. Despite no microbial inactivation was revealed after MIPEF treatment, strong transcriptomic responses were observed, particularly in genes related to membrane integrity and metabolic activity. Numerous overexpressed genes associated with ABC transporters, outer membrane proteins, and lipoproteins were identified, which could increase the strain’s virulence. This study provides insights into the stress response mechanisms induced by conventional and novel treatments. Nevertheless, further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects on bacterial populations.
Project description:Biotechnology suggests that microorganisms can be used as chemical factories that transform renewable feedstock into value-added chemicals. Conversion of glycerol, using direct transformation or fermentation, into valuable products such as polymers, surfactants, solvents, and chemical intermediates has attained growing interest in recent years due to the dramatic growth of the biodiesel industry. However, the use of cell factories could be limited by low growth and uptake rates under certain environmental conditions, thus understanding microbial nutritional requirements is a critical point to use them as cell factories. Here, we compared E. coli ATCC 8739 transcriptomic responses to glycerol under aerobic conditions in an optimized culture medium (Condition 3) and one evolved strain in glycerol using as a reference a glycerol-based medium (Condition 11). Our analyses revealed 478 and 431 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with log2 fold change (FC) > |2| and p Adjusted value < 0.05, for the bacteria growing in the optimized culture medium and the evolved strain, respectively. Among the DEGs, glp operon was found to be up-regulated as a response to glycerol uptake. Interestingly, between them, it was found genes that requires the use of phosphorous to ovoid the toxicity during glycerol consumption. Previously, we identified using a computational approach that phosphorous and nitrogen are essential compound that support high glycerol consumption in E. coli.
Project description:The purpose of this study is to determine whether the presence of pathogenic Escherichia coli in colon is associated with psychiatric disorders.
Project description:Global response to ciprofloxacin in low level quinolone resistant Escherichia coli: a shorter path to survival. Background: Bactericidal activity of quinolones in bacteria has been related to a combination of DNA fragmentation, ROS production and programmed dead cell systems. Subjacent molecular systems responsible for reduction of bactericidal effect in low-level quinolone resistance (LLQR) phenotypes remain to be clarified. To answer this question and to define new possible antimicrobial targets, the transcriptomic profile in isogenic Escherichia coli harbouring quinolone resistance mechanisms in the presence of ciprofloxacin was evaluated. Materials and methods: E. coli 25922 was used as background strain. Four LLQR isogenic strains were tested for transcriptomic assays: ATCC 25922 (wild-type), EC14 (coding for QnrS1), EC19 (marR deletion and coding for QnrS1) and EC24 (Ser83Leu substitution in GyrA and coding for QnrS1). Cells in exponential phase (DO600=0.4) were exposed to 1 mg/L of ciprofloxacin (breakpoint for reduced susceptibility according to CLSI) during 1 hour and, further, RNA was purified. Gene expression analysis was performed using AGILENT technology. Data obtained for each strain were always normalized to the wild-type E. coli ATCC 25922. Specific ROS modulation targets were validated by genetic and biochemical approach. Results: A radical differential response to ciprofloxacin in LLQR strains, either up or downregulation, was observed (proportional to the MIC values). Multiple genes implicated in ROS production (related to TCA cycle, aerobic respiration or detoxification systems) were upregulated (sdhC up to 63.5-folds) in LLQR mutants. SOS system components were downregulated (recA up to 30.7-folds). yihE, coding for a protective kinase of programmed cell death, was also upregulated (up to 5.2-folds). SdhC inhibition sensitized LLQR phenotypes (up to Log=2.3 after 24 hours). Conclusions: At clinical relevant concentration of ciprofloxacin, the pattern of genes expression of critical systems for bacterial survival and mutant development were significantly modified in LLQR phenotypes. This approach allowed validating ROS modulation as an interesting target in terms of bacterial sensitization.
Project description:Despite the characterization of many aetiologic genetic changes. The specific causative factors in the development of sporadic colorectal cancer remain unclear. This study was performed to detect the possible role of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) in developing colorectal carcinoma.