The RNA sequencing of cold-induced VBNC cells of E. coli O157:H7

Escherichia coli O157: H7 is one of the most notorious foodborne pathogens which is known to cause gastroenteric infections with a low infectious dose. It has been reported that a series of food processing and storage, such as low-temperature storage, was able to induce the E. coli O157: H7 cells hidden in food ingredients into viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state. In the previous study, we confirmed that E. coli O157:H7 in frozen beef balls was inducted into the VBNC state at -20°C after 152 days. The gene expression of VBNC E. coli O157:H7 on transcriptome level was investigated by using RNA-Seq transcriptomics analysis methods.