Stress Resistance Development and Genome-Wide Transcriptional Response ofEscherichia coliO157:H7 Adapted to Sublethal Thymol, Carvacrol, andtrans-Cinnamaldehyde
ABSTRACTThymol, carvacrol, andtrans-cinnamaldehyde are essential oil (EO) compounds with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities against foodborne pathogens, includingEscherichia coliO157:H7. However, little is known regarding direct resistance and cross-resistance development inE. coliO157:H7 after adaptation to sublethal levels of these compounds, and information is scarce on microbial adaptive responses at a molecular level. The present study demonstrated thatE. coliO157:H7 was able to grow in the presence of sublethal thymol (1/2T), carvacrol (1/2C), ortrans-cinnamaldehyde (1/2TC), displaying an extended lag phase duration and a lower maximum growth rate. EO-adapted cells developed direct resistance against lethal EO treatments and cross-resistance against heat (58°C) and oxidative (50 mM H2O2) stresses. However, no induction of acid resistance (simulated gastric fluid, pH 1.5) was observed. RNA sequencing revealed a large number (310 to 338) of differentially expressed (adjustedPvalue [Padj], <0.05; fold change, ≥5) genes in 1/2T and 1/2C cells, while 1/2TC cells only showed 27 genes with altered expression. In accordance with resistance phenotypes, the genes related to membrane, heat, and oxidative stress responses and genes related to iron uptake and metabolism were upregulated. Conversely, virulence genes associated with motility, biofilm formation, and efflux pumps were repressed. This study demonstrated the development of direct resistance and cross-resistance and characterized whole-genome transcriptional responses inE. coliO157:H7 adapted to sublethal thymol, carvacrol, ortrans-cinnamaldehyde. The data suggested that caution should be exercised when using EO compounds as food antimicrobials, due to the potential stress resistance development inE. coliO157:H7.IMPORTANCEThe present study was designed to understand transcriptomic changes and the potential development of direct and cross-resistance in essential oil (EO)-adaptedEscherichia coliO157:H7. The results demonstrated altered growth behaviors ofE. coliO157:H7 during adaptation in sublethal thymol, carvacrol, andtrans-cinnamaldehyde. Generally, EO-adapted bacteria showed enhanced resistance against subsequent lethal EO, heat, and oxidative stresses, with no induction of acid resistance in simulated gastric fluid. A transcriptomic analysis revealed the upregulation of related stress resistance genes and a downregulation of various virulence genes in EO-adapted cells. This study provides new insights into microbial EO adaptation behaviors and highlights the risk of resistance development in adapted bacteria.