The role of small acid-soluble proteins (SASPs) in protection of spores of Clostridium botulinum against nitrous acid

Int J Food Microbiol. 2016 Jan 4:216:25-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2015.08.024. Epub 2015 Sep 3.

Abstract

Mutant strains of Clostridium botulinum ATCC 3502 were generated using the ClosTron in four genes (CBO1789, CBO1790, CBO3048, CBO3145) identified as encoding α/β-type SASP homologues. The spores of mutant strains in which CBO1789 or CBO1790 was inactivated demonstrated a significant increase in sensitivity to the damaging agent nitrous acid (P<0.01), a phenotype that was partially restored to wild-type in complementation studies. In contrast to nitrous acid, the spores of the CBO1789 and CBO1790 mutants showed no change in their resistance to formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide (P>0.05), two other chemicals commonly used as components of disinfection regimes. These data indicate that the SASPs CBO1789 or CBO1790 play a significant role in resistance to nitrous acid, but not in resistance to formaldehyde or hydrogen peroxide.

Keywords: Bacterial spores; Chemical resistance; ClosTron; Clostridium species; Food poisoning.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Botulism / microbiology
  • Botulism / prevention & control
  • Clostridium botulinum / drug effects*
  • Clostridium botulinum / genetics
  • Clostridium botulinum / metabolism
  • Disinfectants / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics
  • Foodborne Diseases / microbiology
  • Foodborne Diseases / prevention & control
  • Formaldehyde / pharmacology*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology*
  • Nitrous Acid / pharmacology*
  • Spores, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Spores, Bacterial / genetics
  • Spores, Bacterial / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Disinfectants
  • Formaldehyde
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Nitrous Acid