Food microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Integrative omics analysis of ohmic heating-induced sublethal injury and repair in Staphylococcus aureus” [Food Microbiol. Volume 132, June 2025, 104847]","authors":"Han Wang , Yana Liu , Yingying Sun , Yi Liu , Xingmin Li , Ruitong Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104972","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104972","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104972"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145676939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of qPCR-PMAxx™ and ddPCR-PMAxx™ methods for quantitative detection of viable but not culturable Cronobacter sakazakii on stainless steel surfaces after desiccation and exposure to commercial disinfectant","authors":"Romain Delattre ,&nbsp;Brice Bargoumane ,&nbsp;Karine Le Barillec ,&nbsp;Simon Le Hello ,&nbsp;Aurélie Hanin","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104969","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104969","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cronobacter</em> spp. is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen responsible for life-threatening infections such as meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates, but also for various complications in elderly and immunocompromised people. Environmental monitoring in powdered milk manufacturing plants shows that <em>Cronobacter</em> can persist in production environments for long periods of time. The aim of this study is to develop a method to assess the viability of <em>Cronobacter</em> cells after implementation of stress encountered in industries to determine whether this bacterium can persist in processing environments in a dormant state known as Viable But Non-Cultivable (VBNC) state, making it undetectable by conventional enumeration methods. We developed two detection systems specific to the genus <em>Cronobacter</em> based on quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) in combination with a PMAxx™ (Propidium Monoazide) treatment and agar enumeration to assess the viability of detected cells. Despite a better sensitivity for ddPCR, qPCR-PMAxx™ was more suitable for VBNC detection, as it effectively differentiates viable from dead cells. Desiccation at 58 °C and 20 % relative humidity led to a significant reduction in culturable bacteria, with a drop from 6.82 to 2.58 log copies of genome per coupon over 48 h, while qPCR-PMAxx™ revealed that the proportion of VBNC cells represents approximately 1/100 of the total population of viable bacteria (V). Similarly, treatment of <em>Cronobacter</em> biofilms with a peracetic acid containing disinfectant induced the VBNC state in <em>Cronobacter</em>. The ability of this bacterium to enter the VBNC state may explain its long-term survival in processing plants and highlights the need for appropriate detection methods for effective environmental monitoring plans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104969"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145414006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revealing the most contaminated stages and spots of foodborne pathogens and antibiotic resistance along the whole fish production chain in Greek aquaculture","authors":"Evangelia A. Karamani,&nbsp;Dimitrios A. Anagnostopoulos,&nbsp;Athanasios Tsiartsafis,&nbsp;Stavroula Letsiou,&nbsp;Ioannis S. Boziaris,&nbsp;Foteini F. Parlapani","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104973","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104973","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aquaculture constitutes a significant reservoir for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) posing substantial risks to seafood consumers and public health. This study aimed to reveal the most contaminated stages and spots of foodborne pathogens, and ARB along the whole fish production chain in Greece. To reach this aim, samples (water, surfaces, fish feed, and fish) were collected from multiple spots (e.g. surfaces, equipment) of all stages of the entire chain, from farming to packaging, and analyzed for their microbiological and antibiotic resistance status through classical and molecular approaches. At population point of view, surfaces from broodstock, larvae and pre-fattening tanks were found to be the most burdened spots in farming stages, recording levels close to 5 log cfu/ml or g or cm², while the most burdened spots were found to be on working surfaces before and after decontamination, the concrete floor, transport boxes for fish and fish samples in processing. Based on High-Resolution Melting analysis (HRM) followed by Sanger sequencing, the potential pathogenic microbiota, mainly consisting of <em>Enterococcus</em> spp., <em>Serratia</em> spp., <em>Morganella morganii</em> and <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em>. at both pre-fattening and processing stages, indicating the possible transfer of these microorganisms along the fish production chain. These potential pathogens, mainly isolated from surfaces and water of weaning and pre-fattening tanks, fish feeds, working surfaces, fish transport boxes, concrete floors and fish especially from transport boxes and harvesting, presented a noteworthy resistance to most antibiotics tested (e.g., Clindamycin, Nalidixic acid, Streptomycin, Sulphonamides, Ceftazidime, Erythromycin, Vancomycin, Penicillin G, and Cefoxitin). The findings underscore the importance of early detection and intervention strategies to mitigate ARB transmission, thereby enhancing the safety and quality of aquaculture products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104973"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145526279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hanseniaspora species can create a privileged niche for Oenococcus oeni during triple-strain simultaneous alcoholic-malolactic fermentation based on metabolomics analysis","authors":"Yuzhu Zhao ,&nbsp;Dingyi Wang ,&nbsp;Kangjie Lou ,&nbsp;Kai Hu ,&nbsp;Ling He ,&nbsp;Kan Shi ,&nbsp;Shuwen Liu ,&nbsp;Hongyu Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104987","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104987","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have demonstrated that non-<em>Saccharomyces</em> yeasts can enhance malolactic fermentation (MLF) efficiency during co-fermentation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate how specific strains create favorable metabolic niches through tripartite fermentation assays involving 16 strains from 8 species co-cultured with <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> F5 and <em>Oenococcus oeni</em> SD-2a, <em>Hanseniaspora</em> spp. emerged as optimal partners, reducing MLF duration by 50 % (≤48 h vs. 96 h in controls) while increasing <em>O. oeni</em> biomass by &gt; 10-fold. Metabolomic analysis revealed that <em>O. oeni</em> utilizes malate as a carbon source within an ecological niche shaped by yeast-driven sugar competition, while upregulated nicotinamide metabolism enhanced NAD⁺ regeneration, boosting malolactic enzyme activity. Furthermore, strain-specific peptide secretion provided targeted bacterial support: <em>H. osmophila</em> NX39 produced quorum-sensing peptides and fumarate to activate bacterial pathways, whereas <em>H. uvarum</em> HN2 synthesized nutritional peptides and arabitol to alleviate auxotrophy. Exogenous amino acids (Glu/Trp/Cys) further enhanced MLF efficiency, with glutamate specifically accelerating early <em>O. oeni</em> growth while maintaining <em>S. cerevisiae</em> viability (stable at 10⁸ CFU/mL). These findings transform co-inoculation from a high-risk practice into a robust enological strategy by establishing triple-strain simultaneous alcoholic-malolactic fermentation systems, providing a foundation for next-generation precision enology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104987"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145620313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and genomic characterization of pathogenic blaNDM-positive Escherichia coli from retail meats: The first large-scale study in 22 cities of China","authors":"Mei-Jun Chu ,&nbsp;Ming Zou ,&nbsp;Han Wang ,&nbsp;Junjie Wang ,&nbsp;Zhiyuan You ,&nbsp;Yan Li ,&nbsp;Bao-Tao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104948","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104948","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Retail meat is a suspected reservoir of <em>bla</em>_NDM-positive carbapenem-resistant <em>Escherichia coli</em> (CREC), resulting in foodborne illnesses in humans. Abuse of antibiotics in swine and chicken farming is common in China, however, large-scale studies about <em>bla</em>_NDM-positive CREC from retail meats and their pathogenicity in China are rare. In the present study, we sampled 817 pork and chicken meats, from 152 markets in 22 cities of China, during the period of 2017–2020, and analyzed the prevalence of and genomic characteristics of pathogenic <em>bla</em>_NDM-positive CREC. A total of 203 CREC carrying 7 <em>bla</em>_NDM variants were obtained in the 185 CREC-positive meat samples. Notably, 37.2 % of the <em>bla</em>_NDM-positive isolates co-harbored <em>mcr-1</em>, conferring resistance to nearly all currently available antibiotics. We firstly revealed high prevalence rates of <em>bla</em>_NDM-positive ExPEC (extraintestinal pathogenic <em>E. coli</em>, 19.1 %), APEC (avian pathogenic <em>E. coli</em>, 29.0 %) and UPEC (uropathogeni<em>c E. coli</em>, 32.2 %) in retail meats in China, and found that chicken meat had a higher detection rate of pathogenic CREC than pork. The most common <em>bla</em>_NDM subtype in pathogenic strains was <em>bla</em>_NDM-5, followed by <em>bla</em>_NDM-9. The <em>bla</em>_NDM-13 subtype was firstly found in isolates from meat. Whole-genome sequencing showed these pathogenic strains had high genetic diversity, with ST457, ST156 and ST6751 being the main sequence types. The genetic relationship among CREC of different origins based on phylogenomic analysis indicated the wide spread of these isolates, which was confirmed by the high similarities of the <em>bla</em>_NDM/<em>mcr-1</em>-bearing plasmids from meats and from animals and humans in different geographical areas. The horizontal transmission of these multidrug-resistant pathogens was mainly mediated by transferable <em>bla</em>_NDM-5-bearing IncFIB, IncFIC and IncX3 plasmids, <em>bla</em>_NDM-9-bearing IncB/O plasmids and <em>mcr-1</em>-bearing IncI2 and IncX4 plasmids. This study highlighted retail meat could act as an important vehicle for spreading pathogenic <em>bla</em>_NDM-positive CREC between animals and humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104948"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145414007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Levan produced by probiotic Bacillus subtilis CU1 inhibits human norovirus GII.4 replication in zebrafish via high-avidity binding","authors":"Siyu Chen ,&nbsp;Malcolm Turk Hsern Tan ,&nbsp;Jillinda Yi Ling Toh ,&nbsp;Hong Bai ,&nbsp;Qian Hua ,&nbsp;Yu Keung Mok ,&nbsp;Wenkang Wang ,&nbsp;Shiguo Chen ,&nbsp;Dan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104970","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104970","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the antiviral potential of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from probiotic bacteria against human noroviruses (hNoVs). EPSs from <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> CU1, <em>B. subtilis</em> R0179, and <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em> 299V were initially evaluated using Tulane virus (TV), a cultivable hNoV surrogate. Although EPSs reduced the cytopathic effects caused by TV infection, no clear dose-response relationship was observed. In contrast, the zebrafish model enabled testing of hNoV strains and revealed a distinct anti-hNoV GII.4 activity specific to EPS from <em>B. subtilis</em> CU1. This effect was virus genotype- and bacteria strain-specific: EPSs from <em>B. subtilis</em> R0179 and <em>L. plantarum</em> 299V showed no activity, nor did CU1 EPS affect hNoV GII.2 or GII.17. The major EPS fraction was identified as a levan composed of β-(2,6)-linked Fruf, which exhibited high binding affinity to hNoV GII.4 virus-like particles and P particles, confirmed by saliva-binding ELISA and bio-layer interferometry. Finally, <em>B. subtilis</em> CU1 was used to ferment carrot juice. The antiviral effect of EPS produced by <em>B. subtilis</em> CU1 in fermented carrot juice was validated, and the EPS yield was optimized accordingly. These findings highlight <em>B. subtilis</em> CU1 EPS as a promising anti-hNoVs agent and demonstrate carrot juice as a safe, cost-effective substrate for scalable production of functional probiotic EPSs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104970"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145414067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The antifungal potential and mechanistic action of durian shell water extract against citrus pathogen Fusarium oxysporum","authors":"Haiyan Lin ,&nbsp;Jingjing Shan ,&nbsp;Yineng Wang ,&nbsp;Yiliang Cai ,&nbsp;Shuo Shan ,&nbsp;Xianglong Chen ,&nbsp;Wei Hong ,&nbsp;Ruiyu Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104953","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104953","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hongmeiren citrus<em>,</em> an economically important fruit, currently lacks targeted measures to control postharvest decay. While durian shells are rich in diverse antimicrobial compounds, their antifungal potential remains underexplored. In this study, <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em> was identified as a dominant pathogen causing rot in Hongmeiren citrus. We then evaluated the antifungal efficacy of durian shell water extract (DSWE) against <em>F. oxysporum in vitro</em> and further elucidated the underlying inhibitory mechanism through molecular docking analysis. Our results demonstrated that treatment with 4 mg/mL DSWE significantly reduced mycelial growth diameter by 77.2 % and completely suppressed sporulation by the 6th day post-inoculation, compared to the control (CK). Propidium iodide (PI) staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed severe membrane damage and hyphal collapse in <em>F. oxysporum</em> treated with 4 mg/mL DSWE. Molecular docking predicted that three bioactive compounds in DSWE (fraxetin, taxifolin, and muscone) could bind to key proteins involved in the cell wall and membrane biosynthesis of <em>F. oxysporum</em>. Experimental validation confirmed that fraxetin, taxifolin, and muscone reduced the colony diameter of <em>F. oxysporum</em> by 62.8 %, 53.2 %, and 21.1 %, respectively, while inducing significant membrane injury. Notably, fraxetin and taxifolin exhibited superior antifungal activity compared to muscone. This study elucidates the mechanism by which DSWE inhibits <em>F. oxysporum</em> and highlights its potential as an eco-friendly strategy for controlling postharvest pathogens in citrus.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104953"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145323482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patagonian shellfish and hidden threats: unveiling the viral landscape and the first quantitative microbial risk assessment of Argentine bivalve mollusks","authors":"Camila Frydman ,&nbsp;Viviana Parreño ,&nbsp;Mariana Cap ,&nbsp;Solange Galeano ,&nbsp;Marcelo Signorini Porchietto ,&nbsp;Marina Mozgovoj","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104981","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104981","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne viral infections are a global public health concern, yet quantitative risk assessments (QMRA) for enteric viruses in bivalve mollusks are scarce, especially in South America. We conducted Argentina's first QMRA for five human enteric viruses- norovirus (NoV), rotavirus A (RVA), hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis E (HEV), and adenovirus (AdV) in bivalve mollusks. From August 2018–March 2023, 390 specimens from Golfo Nuevo, Chubut, were pooled (n = 113) and analyzed by real time PCR. A national survey revealed 3.6 % of servings were raw or minimally cooked. AdV showed the highest prevalence and viral load, followed by NoV GII and RVA; HAV and HEV had lower loads, and NoV GI was undetected. Per-serving infection risks peaked for AdV and NoV GII from raw oyster and mussel consumption. Individual annual infection probabilities were 2.44 × 10⁻¹ for AdV, 1.33 × 10⁻¹ for NoV GII, and 6.60 × 10⁻² for HAV. RVA and HEV posed lower risks. Sensitivity analysis identified AdV and HAV prevalence, and mussel and clam consumption, as key drivers of the shellfish-associated infection risk. Our findings pinpoint raw and undercooked oysters and mussels as significant sources of risk. This QMRA provides crucial, country-specific evidence to support optimizing disinfection processes and enhancing monitoring of critical environmental contamination sources along the seafood production and distribution chain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104981"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Survival of foodborne pathogens in Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts on fresh and pickled cucumber and cauliflower","authors":"Shirin Safaeian,&nbsp;Mehdi Zarei,&nbsp;Somayeh Bahrami","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104971","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104971","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne pathogens remain a significant public health concern, with fresh and minimally processed vegetables serving as potential transmission vectors. <em>Acanthamoeba castellanii</em>, a free-living protozoan, can harbor pathogenic bacteria within its cysts, potentially enhancing their survival under adverse conditions. While pickling is known to reduce microbial contamination through acidic and osmotic stress, its efficacy against pathogens protected within <em>Acanthamoeba</em> cysts remains unclear. This study investigated the survival of <em>Salmonella</em> Typhimurium, <em>Escherichia coli</em> O157:H7, <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em>, and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> within <em>A. castellanii</em> cysts on fresh and pickled cucumbers and cauliflowers over storage periods of 9 and 21 days, respectively. Coculture experiments revealed that <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 was internalized by <em>A. castellanii</em> trophozoites at significantly higher rates than the other pathogens. Encystment rates increased over time but were unaffected by the bacterial species harbored within the amoebae. On fresh produce, although bacterial release into nutrient-rich medium during excystment varied by pathogen and produce type, <em>Acanthamoeba</em> cysts consistently served as a protective reservoir, maintaining viable intracellular populations throughout the storage period. In pickled samples, <em>E. coli</em> O157:H7 and <em>L. monocytogenes</em> exhibited prolonged survival, releasing into nutrient-rich medium during excystment for up to 16 days and persisting within trophozoites. <em>S. aureus</em> showed extended retention inside excysted trophozoites, while <em>S.</em> Typhimurium displayed lower but consistent survival. These findings highlight the protective role of <em>A. castellanii</em> cysts, which enable foodborne pathogens to withstand the acidic and osmotic stresses encountered during pickling. The study underscores the potential risk of protozoan-mediated pathogen persistence in both fresh and pickled produce, emphasizing the need for improved food safety interventions that account for amoeba-bacteria interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104971"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145414008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hexadecanoic acid enhances the oxidative tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae via regulating MF(α)2 to mitigate cell cycle progression","authors":"Hui Liu ,&nbsp;Shuxin Hou ,&nbsp;Shihui Wang ,&nbsp;Yucheng Ji ,&nbsp;Changyuan Yu ,&nbsp;Hao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104984","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fm.2025.104984","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our previous research suggested that the co-cultivation of <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> could enhance the oxidative tolerance of yeast, and identified hexadecanoic acid as a key metabolic regulator. Nevertheless, the precise regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. The objective of this work is to elucidate the mechanism through which hexadecanoic acid enhances the oxidative tolerance of <em>S. cerevisiae</em>. Results suggested that addition of hexadecanoic acid could significantly reduce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level by 25.78 % and contribute to maintaining the structural integrity of <em>S. cerevisiae</em>. Hexadecanoic acid reduced ROS production through inhibiting the activation of the Ca²⁺ signaling pathway. On the other hand, due to the decreased generation of intracellular ROS, hexadecanoic acid also down-regulated the antioxidant defense capability of <em>S</em>. <em>cerevisiae</em>, suggesting the non-necessity of excessive activation of the antioxidant system. Transcriptomic analysis revealed hexadecanoic acid treatment associated 27 up-regulated and 30 down-regulated genes. Based on the transcriptomics analysis results and previous findings, the <em>MF(α)2</em> was chosen as a target gene to be clarified. Further construction of the <em>MF(α)2</em> knockout strain demonstrated that the oxidative tolerance of <em>ΔMF(α)2</em> strain significantly decreased. In light of these findings, it can be inferred that hexadecanoic acid may promote the <em>MF(α)2</em> gene expression, thereby delaying the cell cycle and enhancing yeast oxidative tolerance. Results presented in this work would contribute to the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of hexadecanoic acid on the oxidative tolerance of <em>S</em>. <em>cerevisiae</em>, and would also offer insights into the potential for manual intervention to regulate the oxidative tolerance of strains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12399,"journal":{"name":"Food microbiology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 104984"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}