Salmonella exploits the reactive oxygen species generated by the plant immune system to enhance colonization

Abstract

Understanding bacterial interaction with the plant immune system is essential for building a sustainable food system. Discouraging pathogens enhancing beneficial bacteria and preventing food spoilage and contamination by human enteric pathogens. Immune system activation triggers a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We discovered that the food-poisoning bacterium Salmonella exploits the plant ROS to enhance biofilm formation and colonization. Scavenging the ROS with antioxidants reduces colonization. Further, combining the antioxidant vitamin C and immune system activation with salicylic acid inhibits Salmonella colonization synergistically of the plant model Arabidopsis and edible plants. This safe-to-use combination is an eco-friendly method to prevent plant contamination by Salmonella, Listeria and enteropathogenic E. coli. The exploitation of plant immunity for enhancing colonization is not exclusive to Salmonella. It is exhibited by pseudomonas species isolated from plants, suggesting it is a general plant colonization strategy.