Transcriptome sequencing of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis under desiccation and starvation stress in peanut oil

► Molecular mechanisms of Salmonella desiccation stress response are explored. ► RNA-seq is used to profile Salmonella Enteritidis transcriptome in peanut oil and LB. ► S. Enteritidis subjected to prolonged desiccation possesses limited transcriptomic activity. ► Heat and cold shock proteins cross protect Salmonella from desiccation. ► First use of RNA-seq in characterizing a bacterial transcriptome associated with a food matrix.