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Published on: May 31, 2024
Quorum sensing system-regulated genes affect the spoilage potential of Shewanella baltica
Linglin Fu1, Chong Wang1, Nana Liu1
1Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, 18 Xue Zheng Street, Hangzhou 310018, China.
Abstract:
Large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) is a popular and nutritious but also highly perishable fish species, with Shewanella baltica being the primary spoilage bacteria during low-temperature storage. Clarifying the factors promoting spoilage will facilitate efforts to predict and control the shelf life of foods. This study focused on spoilage-related genes in two Shewanella baltica strains with different spoilage potentials. Using whole genome sequencing and alignment, three distinguishing genes (torT, cysM and trxB) were identified. Further protein sequence comparison and protein structure modeling revealed possible motifs responsible for the spoilage activity. Moreover, diketopiperazine (DKP) quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecules regulated biofilm formation and spoilage gene expression, indicating a relationship between the QS system, biofilm formation and spoilage potential. Our results suggest that DKPs and spoilage genes are potential targets for developing novel food antiseptics, as well as new markers for fish product spoilage.
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