Salt at concentrations relevant to meat processing enhances Shiga toxin 2 production in Escherichia coli O157:H7

Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 remains a major food safety concern associated with meat, especially beef products. Shiga toxins (Stx) are key virulence factors produced by E. coli O157:H7 that are responsible for hemorrhagic colitis and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Stx are heat stable and can be absorbed after oral ingestion. Despite the extensive study of E. coli O157:H7 survival during meat processing, little attention is paid to the production of Stx during meat processing. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of salt, an essential additive to processed meat, at concentrations relevant to meat processing (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, W/V) on Stx2 production and Stx2 prophage induction by E. coli O157:H7 strains. For both E. coli O157:H7 86‐24 and EDL933 strains, including 2% salt in LB broth decreased (P < 0.05) E. coli O157:H7 population, but increased (P < 0.05) Stx2 production (as measured relative to Log10CFU) compared to that of the control (1% salt). Supplementing 3% salt decreased (P < 0.05) both E. coli O157:H7 number and Stx2 production. Quantitative RT-PCR indicated that stx2 mRNA expression in culture media containing 2% salt was greatly increased (P < 0.05) compared to other salt concentrations. Consistent with enhanced Stx2 production and stx2 expression, the 2% salt group had highest lambdoid phage titer and stx2 prophage induction among all salt treatments. RecA is a key mediator of bacterial response to stress, which mediates prophage activation. Quantitative RT-PCR further indicated that recA mRNA expression was higher in both 2% and 3% salt than that of 0% and 1% salt treatments, indicating that stress was involved in enhanced Stx2 production. In conclusion, salt at the concentration used for meat processing enhances Stx production, a process linked to bacterial stress response and lambdoid prophage induction.

► Salt at concentrations used in meat processing enhances Shiga toxin production by E. coli O157:H7.
► Shiga toxin production is mediated by lambdoid phage activation under salt stress.
► Possible Shiga toxin production is another critical control point besides live E. coli O157:H7.
► Because of resistance to heat, Shiga toxin needs to be measured to ensure food safety.