This research aimed to evaluate the effect of acid stress on the expression of stress regulator (grxB and rpoS) and virulence (ompA, hfq, and cpa) genes of Cronobacter sakazakii Yrt2a. The results showed that C. sakazakii Yrt2a experienced decrease in number during acid stress and was no longer culturable 90 min post exposure to pH 3.0. During acid stress, the expression of grxB, rpoS, ompA, cpa and hfq was upregulated by 2.15; 2.19; 1.55; 1.1 and 1.41 log, respectively. However, all genes expression was downregulated when the bacteria entered the unculturable state. The expression of gene grxB, rpoS, ompA, cpa decreased to 1.04; 0.37; 0.84 and 1.71 log, respectively; while hfq gene expression reached a level lower than that of control. This research implies a supposition that during acid stress, C. sakazakii was capable of maintaining its culturability and pathogenicity until they are no longer culturable.

这项研究旨在评估酸胁迫对阪崎肠杆菌Yrt2a的压力调节子（grxB和rpoS）和毒力（ompA，hfq和cpa）基因表达的影响。结果表明，阪崎肠杆菌Yrt2a在酸胁迫期间数量减少，并且在暴露于pH 3.0后90分钟不再可培养。在酸胁迫期间，grxB，rpoS，ompA，cpa和hfq的表达被2.15上调；2.19; 1.55；分别为1.1和1.41日志。但是，当细菌进入不可培养状态时，所有基因的表达均被下调。grxB，rpoS，ompA，cpa基因的表达降至1.04；0.37；对数分别为0.84和1.71; 而hfq基因的表达水平低于对照组。这项研究暗示了一种假设，即在酸胁迫期间，阪崎肠杆菌能够维持其可培养性和致病性，直到它们不再可培养为止。