Increased heat tolerance and transcriptome analysis of Salmonella enterica Enteritidis PT 30 heat-shocked at 42 ℃

In this study, we compared the heat tolerance parameter (D65℃) values of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis PT 30 (S. Enteritidis ) heat adapted at different degrees (at 42 ℃ for 20–180 min) and cultivated using two methods. The treated group with the highest D65℃ value (LP-42 ℃-60 min) and the untreated groups (Control-TSB and Control-TSA) were subjected to transcriptome analysis. Heat-adaptation increased the D65℃ values of S. Enteritidis by 24.5–60.8%. The D65℃ values of the LP-42 ℃-60 min group (1.85 ± 0.13 min, 7.7% higher) was comparable to that of the Control-TSA. A total of 483 up- and 443 downregulated genes of S. enteritidis were identified in the LP-42 ℃-60 min group (log2fold change > 1, adjusted p-value < 0.05). Among these genes, 5 co-expressed and 15 differentially expressed genes in the LP-42 ℃-60 min and Control-TSA grops possibly contributed to the high D65℃ values of S. Enteritidis. The Rpo regulon was involved in the heat adaptation of S. Enteritidis, as evidenced by the significant upregulation of rpoS, rpoN, and rpoE. KEGG enrichment pathways, such as biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, tricarboxylic acid, and ribosomes were identified and mapped to reveal the molecular mechanisms of S. enteritidis during heat adaptation. This study quantified the enhanced heat tolerance of S. Enteritidis heat adapted at different degrees of heat-adaptation. The results of this study may serve as a basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the enhanced heat tolerance at the transcriptome level.