Adaptive Responses of Enteric Pathogens to Acidic Environments

Enteric pathogens face formidable acid challenges throughout the gastrointestinal tract and in acidified foods. To survive, bacteria have evolved multilayered defence systems collectively known as the acid tolerance response. Key strategies include induction of amino acid decarboxylases that consume intracellular protons, activation of proton‐pumping ATPases, remodelling of membrane lipid composition to reduce proton permeability and deployment of global stress regulators and chaperone networks to repair macromolecular damage. Two‐component regulatory systems detect extracellular pH shifts and adjust gene expression, while adaptive laboratory evolution experiments reveal that prolonged acid exposure can fix mutations in regulatory loci, further enhancing survival. These adaptive responses underpin pathogen transmission, influence the efficacy of food preservation methods and inform the design of novel antimicrobials and live‐attenuated vaccines. A clear understanding of the molecular basis of acid resistance in enteric bacteria is therefore critical for public health, food safety and the development of targeted interventions.

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Adaptive Responses of Enteric Pathogens to Acidic Environments publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in adaptive responses of enteric pathogens to acidic environments across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE): An experimental approach that subjects microbial populations to defined stresses over many generations to select for adaptive mutations.

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial or stress agent required to prevent visible growth of a microorganism.

Transcriptomic analysis: Genome‐wide quantification of RNA transcripts, revealing gene expression changes in response to environmental stimuli.

Cross‐adaptation: A phenomenon whereby exposure to one stressor (e.g. acid) enhances tolerance to another (e.g. heat).

Two‐component regulatory system: A paired sensor kinase and response regulator that senses environmental cues and modulates gene expression accordingly.

References

1. Transcriptomic analysis using RNA sequencing and phenotypic analysis of Salmonella enterica after acid exposure for different time durations using adaptive laboratory evolution. Frontiers in Microbiology (2024).
2. Pre-Exposure of Foodborne Staphylococcus aureus Isolates to Organic Acids Induces Cross-Adaptation to Mild Heat. Microbiology Spectrum (2023).
3. Sensing and Adaptation to Low pH Mediated by Inducible Amino Acid Decarboxylases in Salmonella. PLOS ONE (2011).
4. The Survival of Salmonella enterica Strains in Ready-to-Eat Fruit Purees under Different Storage Temperatures. Beverages (2024).