Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses of Escherichia coli Serotype O157:H7 in Response to Rhamnolipid Treatment

Rhamnolipid (RL) can inhibit biofilm formation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, but the associated mechanism remains unknown. We here conducted comparative physiological and transcriptomic analyses cultures treated with RL untreated to elucidate a potential by which may in E. O157:H7. Anti-biofilm assays showed that over 70% O157:H7 capacity was inhibited treatment 0.25–1 mg/mL RL. Cellular-level analysis revealed high concentration significantly reduced outer membrane hydrophobicity. cell integrity permeability were also affected due an increase release lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from membrane. Furthermore, profiling 2601 differentially expressed genes (1344 up-regulated 1257 down-regulated) cells compared cells. Functional enrichment indicated biosynthetic responsible for LPS synthesis, protein flagellar assembly, down-regulated required poly-N-acetyl-glucosamine biosynthesis present locus enterocyte effacement pathogenicity island. In summary, modifying key surface properties expression levels adhesion genes.