Decoding the functionality of pESA3 in Cronobacter sakazakii: A balancing act between survival and pathogenicity.

IF 3.4 4区生物学 Q3 MICROBIOLOGY

Research in microbiology Pub Date : 2025-09-20 DOI:10.1016/j.resmic.2025.104340

Ping Lu, Juan Xue, Aiying Shi, Xuemeng Ji

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: Cronobacter sakazakii is a foodborne pathogen notable for both virulence and desiccation tolerance. This study investigates the functional roles of the pESA3 plasmid in mediating these two traits and explores the potential trade-off between them.

Methods: Proteomic profiling identified pESA3-encoded proteins, followed by construction of targeted deletion mutants (hcp, ESA_pESA3p05542) and a plasmid-cured strain. Phenotypic assays evaluated growth, desiccation survival, surface hydrophilicity, and virulence in a neonatal rat model.

Results: Deletion of ESA_pESA3p05542 impaired desiccation tolerance and reduced surface hydrophilicity, while hcp deletion attenuated virulence but enhanced desiccation survival. Notably, complete loss of pESA3 abolished virulence without affecting desiccation resistance, suggesting functional antagonism between plasmid-encoded virulence and stress-response genes.

Conclusions: pESA3 enables C. sakazakii to balance host pathogenicity and environmental persistence. Its gene modules promote either virulence or desiccation resistance, but not both, reflecting an evolutionary trade-off that supports survival across diverse niches.

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破译坂崎克罗诺杆菌pESA3的功能：生存与致病性之间的平衡行为。

目的：阪崎克罗诺杆菌是一种具有强毒力和耐干燥性的食源性致病菌。本研究探讨了pESA3质粒在介导这两种性状中的功能作用，并探讨了它们之间的潜在权衡。方法：通过蛋白质组学分析鉴定pesa3编码蛋白，构建靶向缺失突变体（hcp, ESA_pESA3p05542）和质粒固化菌株。表型分析评估新生大鼠模型的生长、干燥存活、表面亲水性和毒力。结果：esa_pesa3po05542基因的缺失降低了其干燥耐受性，降低了其表面亲水性，而hcp基因的缺失降低了其毒力，但提高了其干燥存活率。值得注意的是，pESA3的完全丧失消除了毒力，但不影响干燥抗性，这表明质粒编码的毒力和应激反应基因之间存在功能性拮抗作用。结论：pESA3使坂崎弧菌能够平衡宿主致病性和环境持久性。它的基因模块要么增强毒力，要么增强抗旱性，但不是两者兼而有之，这反映了一种支持在不同生态位中生存的进化权衡。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Research in microbiology 生物-微生物学

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

3.80%

发文量

审稿时长

16 days

期刊介绍： Research in Microbiology is the direct descendant of the original Pasteur periodical entitled Annales de l''Institut Pasteur, created in 1887 by Emile Duclaux under the patronage of Louis Pasteur. The Editorial Committee included Chamberland, Grancher, Nocard, Roux and Straus, and the first issue began with Louis Pasteur''s "Lettre sur la Rage" which clearly defines the spirit of the journal:"You have informed me, my dear Duclaux, that you intend to start a monthly collection of articles entitled "Annales de l''Institut Pasteur". You will be rendering a service that will be appreciated by the ever increasing number of young scientists who are attracted to microbiological studies. In your Annales, our laboratory research will of course occupy a central position, but the work from outside groups that you intend to publish will be a source of competitive stimulation for all of us."That first volume included 53 articles as well as critical reviews and book reviews. From that time on, the Annales appeared regularly every month, without interruption, even during the two world wars. Although the journal has undergone many changes over the past 100 years (in the title, the format, the language) reflecting the evolution in scientific publishing, it has consistently maintained the Pasteur tradition by publishing original reports on all aspects of microbiology.