Effect of low water activity on staphylococcal enterotoxin A and B biosynthesis

Staphylococcus aureus strains FDA 743 (staphylococcal enterotoxin A [SEA]-producing), FDA 778 (staphylococcal enterotoxin B [SEB]-producing), and S6 (SEA- and SEB-producing) were used to examine the effect of low water activity (a(w)) on SEA and SEB biosynthesis. In this report, we show that SEB production is more sensitive to low a(w) than SEA production. We also show that when proline is available as a compatible solute for S. aureus, SEB production is significantly stimulated at low a(w). This stimulatory effect was not observed when other compatible solutes (i.e., glycine betaine or carnitine) were added to low a(w) growth media. Finally, Northern blot analysis revealed that the stimulation of SEB production at low a(w) by added proline occurs at the level of transcription.