Differential Gene Expression of E. Coli O157:H7 in Ground Beef Extract
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Differential Gene Expression of E. coli O157:H7 in Ground Beef Extract Compared to Tryptic Soy Broth Pina M. Fratamico, Siyun Wang, Xianghe Yan, Wei Zhang, and Yuesheng Li Abstract: E. coli O157:H7 is an important foodborne pathogen, and ground beef is a common vehicle of infection. DNA microarrays have been used for transcriptomic studies of E. coli O157:H7 using laboratory media; however, analysis of gene expression in complex matrices such as food are lacking. This study compared gene expression profiles of E. coli O157:H7 Sakai strain in raw ground beef extract (GBE) and tryptic soy broth (TSB). Total RNA was isolated from GBE and TSB after 2 h of incubation with E. coli O157:H7. Following reverse transcription (RT) of the RNA, labeled cDNA was hybridized to microarrays representing 9608 open reading frames (Operon; Genome Array-Ready Oligo Set) corresponding to 4 genomes of E. coli strains and 3 plasmids. There were 74 up-regulated (genes involved in protein and polysaccharide biosynthesis, transcription factors, membrane transport proteins, and acid shock proteins) and 54 down-regulated (encoding proteins for energy metabolism, biosynthesis of cofactors, transporters of small molecules, and transcription factors and enzymes responsible for protein degradation) genes in E. coli O157:H7 grown in GBE compared to TSB, respectively. Furthermore, compared to incubation in TSB, E. coli O157:H7 incubated in GBE for 2 h showed significantly increased survival when exposed to synthetic gastric fluid, pH 1.5. This study demonstrated that microarray analyses can be performed using complex food matrices, and gene expression of E. coli O157:H7 differs in TSB compared to GBE. The information will be useful for identification of genes that can be employed as potential targets for interventions to control E. coli O157:H7. Keywords: biotechnology, E. coli O157: H7, meat safety, microbial survival, molecular biology & Safety M: Food Microbiology Introduction mit the development of effective interventions to inactivate this E. coli O157:H7 is a leading cause of foodborne illness world- pathogen or control growth in beef. wide. Ruminant animals, particularly cattle, are reservoirs for this Gene expression profiling using DNA microarray technology pathogen; however, other animals, including birds and pigs can provides a measurement of the activity (expression) of every gene also be carriers (Smith and Fratamico 2005). Outbreaks have been in a genome allowing a global analysis of cellular function in re- linked to contaminated drinking water, fresh produce, and fruit sponse to specific environmental variables. Altered levels of specific juices; however, food of bovine origin, particularly, raw or un- mRNAs may indicate a change in the level of the proteins encoded dercooked ground beef, has been implicated in a large number by the mRNA required in response to specific environmental con- of the documented outbreaks (Smith and Fratamico 2005). Cat- ditions. This technology can also be utilized to identify genes that tle harboring Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157:H7 on are controlled by specific regulators and to study the function of hides and in feces can result in contamination of carcasses during particular genes by comparing gene expression in wild-type bacte- slaughter. There have been numerous recalls of ground beef due ria and their isogenic mutants. Generally, gene expression studies to contamination with STEC O157:H7 (http://www.fsis.usda. in foodborne bacteria have been conducted in growth medium gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp), resulting in and not in complex matrices such as food. The potential for the major ramifications for meat processors. An understanding of how analysis of gene expression of pathogens in food environments has STEC O157:H7 survives and proliferates in ground beef will per- not yet been completely realized due to the substantial techni- cal challenges associated with accurately measuring bacterial gene expression in complex matrices. The isolation of stable mRNA from complex materials, such as food, soil, and fecal samples that contain nucleases and PCR inhibitors is a challenge. There have MS 20100705 Submitted 6/23/2010, Accepted 9/30/2010. Authors Fratamico been very few reports on gene expression analyses in food. Liu and and Yan are with U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Ream (2008) examined gene expression of Listeria monocytogenes in Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, U.S.A. Authors Wang and Zhang ◦ are with Natl. Center for Food Safety and Technology, Illinois Inst. of Technology, 6502 ultra-high temperature-processed skim milk at 4 C. Compared S. Archer Rd, Summit, IL 60501, U.S.A. Author Li is with Fox Chase Cancer to growth in brain heart infusion broth, there were 14 down- Center Genomic Facility, 333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111, U.S.A. regulated genes and 26 up-regulated genes encoding for transport Direct inquiries to author Fratamico (E-mail: [email protected]). and binding proteins, transcriptional regulators, proteins involved Mention of trade names or commercial products is solely for the purpose in amino acid biosynthesis and energy metabolism, protein syn- of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or thesis, and cell division. Makhzami and others (2008) developed endorsement by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. a mRNA extraction method suitable for analyses of Enterococcus R Journal compilation C 2010 Institute of Food Technologists No claim to original government works r doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01952.x Vol. 76, Nr. 1, 2011 Journal of Food Science M79 Further reproduction without permission is prohibited E. coli O157:H7 gene expression in beef . faecalis gene expression profiles in cheese samples using DNA ar- RNA was then isolated and purified using the RNeasy kit (Qi- rays. Their study revealed that there were differences in transcript agen) according to manufacturer’s instructions. The total RNA levels of an E. faecalis food isolate compared to a clinical isolate, isolated was quantified using a Nanodrop 1000 (ThermoFisher suggesting that the food isolate may have adapted to a dairy envi- Scientific, Waltham, Mass., U.S.A.), and the RNA quality was ronment. Bergholz and others (2009) examined the induction of analyzed using an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer (Agilent Technolo- stress response regulons of E. coli O157:H7 in a low pH, high os- gies, Santa Clara, Calif., U.S.A.) according to the manufacturer’s molarity model apple juice medium. Genes that showed significant protocol. induction in the model apple juice included those involved in acid, osmotic, oxidative, and envelope stress responses. Thus, although Genome oligo set and microarray printing there are a few reports on gene expression profiling of bacteria in The E. coli Genome AROSTM version 2.0 oligo set (Operon food or model food systems, there have been no reported studies Biotechnologies Inc., Huntville, Ala., U.S.A.) contained 9308 70- examining gene expression of E. coli O157:H7 in beef. The aim mer oligonucleotide probes representing the genomes of 4 E. of this research was to determine the genome expression profile coli strains and 3 plasmids. The number of open reading frames of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef extract (GBE) and compare (ORFs) or genes represented was as follows: 4269 ORFs in E. it to that in tryptic soy broth (TSB) to elucidate genes important coli K12, 5306 ORFs in E. coli O157:H7 (EDL933), 5251 ORFs for growth and survival in ground beef. This information will be in E. coli O157:H7 (Sakai), 5366 ORFs in uropathogenic E. coli useful for the development of effective strategies to control this CFT073, 3 genes in OSAK1, 10 genes in pO157_Sakai, and 97 pathogen in beef. genes in pO157_EDL933. The oligonucleotide set also included randomly generated oligo sequences to serve as negative con- Materials and Methods trols for hybridization. The oligonucleotides were resuspended in × μ Preparation of the GBE 3 SSC (standard sodium citrate) at 30 M concentration, and slides were printed at the Fox Chase Cancer Center microarray Fresh, raw, 85% lean ground beef was obtained from a local core facility onto aminosylin-coated slides (UltraGAPS, Corning, supermarket and sterilized by irradiation (25 kGy) in a 137Cs self- M: Food Microbiology Lowell, Mass., U.S.A.) at 50% humidity using a GeneMachines contained Lockheed-Georgia Co. (Marietta, Ga., U.S.A.) gamma OmniGrid 100 microarrayer (GeneMachines, San Carlos, Calif., irradiator with temperature control. The irradiation temperature & Safety ◦ U.S.A.). Blank spots (3× SSC) were used to monitor for back- was −20 C, and there were no detectable differences in the ground hybridization signal levels. Following spotting, the oligos quality of the beef after irradiation. Total of 15 mL of sterile were bound to the slide by UV cross-linking, and the slides were water were added to 50-g portions of the sterile ground beef in stored in a dry environment prior to use. a Stomacher bag (Spiral Biotech Inc., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.) followed by pummeling in a Stomacher 400 Lab Blender (Seward Ltd., London, U.K.) for 1 min, and then massaging by hand. The Aminoallyl indirect labeling of cDNA targets liquid extract was removed, centrifuged at 2100 × g for 5 min, A total of 30 μg of total RNA and 0.5 μg random hexamer and then filtered using a 0.22 μm filter and frozen at −20 ◦C until pd(N)6 primers were mixed to a final volume of 10 μLand ◦ use. incubated at 70 C for 10 min. Reverse transcription mixture (10 μL), containing 0.5 mM dATP, dCTP, dGTP, 0.2 mM dTTP, Bacterial strain and culture conditions in GBE and TSA 0.3 mM aminoallyl-dUTP, 10 mM DTT, 1× first strand buffer, 40 U rRNasin, and 400 U SuperScript II was added to RNA E.