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Article | Open Access

Desiccation and osmotic resistance mechanism of Cronobacter spp. isolated from powdered infant formula

Shiqian FuaDanliangmin SongbXue QinbLihan WangbQianyu ZhaobChaoxin ManbXinyan Yangb()Yujun Jiangb()
Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Department of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China

Peer review under responsibility of Beijing Academy of Food Sciences.

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Highlights

• 35 isolates were identified as 4 species of Cronobacter by MALDI-TOF MS.

• Drying inactivation rate of the strains ranged from 9.01% to 77.57%.

• Biofilm forming ability was positively correlated with desiccation resistance.

• Maximum tolerable osmotic pressure of the strains was 6% NaCl.

CysM, thuF and ycjO genes have been firstly found to be associated with tolerances.

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Abstract

Cronobacter spp. has strong resistance to desiccation and high permeability in Enterobacteriaceae, and powdered infant formula (PIF) is one of the main contamination routes. In recent years, the contamination of Cronobacter spp. in PIF incidents occurs from time to time, causing infant serious diseases or death. In this investigation, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry was used to identify the phenotypes of 35 Cronobacter strains isolated from PIF and its processing environment. Subsequently, the isolates were evaluated for drying and osmotic pressure tolerance. The results showed that the deactivation rate of the strains ranged from 9.01% to 77.57%, and the highest osmotic pressure condition the strains could tolerate was 6 g/100 mL NaCl. In addition, there was a positive correlation between biofilm formation ability and desiccation resistance. Combined with transcriptomics, Cronobacter spp. could activate biofilm synthesis, produce more trehalose, accumulate betaine and electrolytes to stabilize intracellular structure under the two treatment conditions. A total of 31 and 43 genes were found related to desiccation and permeability resistance, respectively. And some genes (cysM, thuF, ycjO, etc.) were found to be associated with two tolerances for the first time.

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Food Science and Human Wellness
Article number: 9250063
Cite this article:
Fu S, Song D, Qin X, et al. Desiccation and osmotic resistance mechanism of Cronobacter spp. isolated from powdered infant formula. Food Science and Human Wellness, 2025, 14(3): 9250063. https://doi.org/10.26599/FSHW.2024.9250063
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