Prolonged cold stress response of Escherichia coli O157 and the role of rpoS

► RpoS plays a key role in cold stress physiology of E. coli O157 strain B1. ► 21 unique proteins were expressed during cold temperature shifts or rpoS mutation. ► Cold stress affected mRNA turnover, membranes, sugar uptake and central metabolism. ► RpoS did not affect PnP during prolonged cold stress. ► RpoS regulated proteins involved in homeoviscous adaptation and central metabolism.