γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Metabolic Bypass Plays a Crucial Role in Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in <i>C. sakazakii</i> ATCC 29544
<i>Cronobacter sakazakii</i> is a foodborne pathogen characterized by its robust stress tolerance and ability to form biofilms, which facilitates its survival in powdered infant formula (PIF) processing environments for prolonged periods. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a kind of non-p...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| author | Jiangchao Wu Yigang Yu Fengsong Liu Yifang Cao Jiahao Ren Yiting Fan Xinglong Xiao |
| author_facet | Jiangchao Wu Yigang Yu Fengsong Liu Yifang Cao Jiahao Ren Yiting Fan Xinglong Xiao |
| author_sort | Jiangchao Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Cronobacter sakazakii</i> is a foodborne pathogen characterized by its robust stress tolerance and ability to form biofilms, which facilitates its survival in powdered infant formula (PIF) processing environments for prolonged periods. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a kind of non-protein amino acid that acts as an osmoprotectant. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the <i>gabT</i> gene on the survival of <i>C. sakazakii</i>, GABA accumulation, and biofilm formation under desiccation, osmotic stress, and acid exposure. A <i>gabT</i> knockout strain of <i>C. sakazakii</i> was developed using gene recombination techniques. The GABA content and survival rates of both the wild-type and knockout strains were compared under various stress conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe cellular damage and biofilm formation. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The deletion of <i>gabT</i> resulted in enhanced GABA accumulation under different stress conditions, improving the bacterium’s tolerance to desiccation, osmotic pressure, and acid treatment. SEM images revealed that under identical stress conditions, the <i>gabT</i> knockout strain exhibited less cellular damage compared to the wild-type strain. Both strains were capable of biofilm formation under low osmotic pressure stress, but the <i>gabT</i> knockout strain showed higher GABA content, denser biofilm formation, and increased biofilm quantity. Similar trends were observed under acid stress conditions. The <i>gabT</i> gene plays a key role in modulating GABA accumulation, which enhances the stress tolerance and biofilm formation of <i>C. sakazakii</i>. These findings provide new insights into the role of GABA in bacterial survival mechanisms and highlight the potential for targeting GABA pathways to control <i>C. sakazakii</i> in food processing environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2dd7b5680dd44fc2b6667555eafa90cc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-2dd7b5680dd44fc2b6667555eafa90cc2025-01-24T13:32:44ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-01-0114217110.3390/foods14020171γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Metabolic Bypass Plays a Crucial Role in Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in <i>C. sakazakii</i> ATCC 29544Jiangchao Wu0Yigang Yu1Fengsong Liu2Yifang Cao3Jiahao Ren4Yiting Fan5Xinglong Xiao6The College of Life and Geographic Sciences, Kashi University, Kashi 844000, ChinaThe College of Life and Geographic Sciences, Kashi University, Kashi 844000, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industrial and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, ChinaThe College of Life and Geographic Sciences, Kashi University, Kashi 844000, China<i>Cronobacter sakazakii</i> is a foodborne pathogen characterized by its robust stress tolerance and ability to form biofilms, which facilitates its survival in powdered infant formula (PIF) processing environments for prolonged periods. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a kind of non-protein amino acid that acts as an osmoprotectant. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the <i>gabT</i> gene on the survival of <i>C. sakazakii</i>, GABA accumulation, and biofilm formation under desiccation, osmotic stress, and acid exposure. A <i>gabT</i> knockout strain of <i>C. sakazakii</i> was developed using gene recombination techniques. The GABA content and survival rates of both the wild-type and knockout strains were compared under various stress conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe cellular damage and biofilm formation. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The deletion of <i>gabT</i> resulted in enhanced GABA accumulation under different stress conditions, improving the bacterium’s tolerance to desiccation, osmotic pressure, and acid treatment. SEM images revealed that under identical stress conditions, the <i>gabT</i> knockout strain exhibited less cellular damage compared to the wild-type strain. Both strains were capable of biofilm formation under low osmotic pressure stress, but the <i>gabT</i> knockout strain showed higher GABA content, denser biofilm formation, and increased biofilm quantity. Similar trends were observed under acid stress conditions. The <i>gabT</i> gene plays a key role in modulating GABA accumulation, which enhances the stress tolerance and biofilm formation of <i>C. sakazakii</i>. These findings provide new insights into the role of GABA in bacterial survival mechanisms and highlight the potential for targeting GABA pathways to control <i>C. sakazakii</i> in food processing environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/171<i>Cronobacter sakazakii</i>GABA<i>gabT</i>environmental stressbiofilm |
| spellingShingle | Jiangchao Wu Yigang Yu Fengsong Liu Yifang Cao Jiahao Ren Yiting Fan Xinglong Xiao γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Metabolic Bypass Plays a Crucial Role in Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in <i>C. sakazakii</i> ATCC 29544 Foods <i>Cronobacter sakazakii</i> GABA <i>gabT</i> environmental stress biofilm |
| title | γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Metabolic Bypass Plays a Crucial Role in Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in <i>C. sakazakii</i> ATCC 29544 |
| title_full | γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Metabolic Bypass Plays a Crucial Role in Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in <i>C. sakazakii</i> ATCC 29544 |
| title_fullStr | γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Metabolic Bypass Plays a Crucial Role in Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in <i>C. sakazakii</i> ATCC 29544 |
| title_full_unstemmed | γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Metabolic Bypass Plays a Crucial Role in Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in <i>C. sakazakii</i> ATCC 29544 |
| title_short | γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Metabolic Bypass Plays a Crucial Role in Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in <i>C. sakazakii</i> ATCC 29544 |
| title_sort | γ aminobutyric acid gaba metabolic bypass plays a crucial role in stress tolerance and biofilm formation in i c sakazakii i atcc 29544 |
| topic | <i>Cronobacter sakazakii</i> GABA <i>gabT</i> environmental stress biofilm |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/171 |
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