Phenotypic traits of carbon source utilization in environmental Salmonella strains isolated from river water

Abstract

Salmonella in the environment have evolved genetically to maintain a stable cell metabolism. Nevertheless, a lack of common nutrients (such as glucose) causes these strains to metabolize alternative carbon sources. In this study, 21 strains of Salmonella Oranienburg isolated from subtropical river water were evaluated to compare their adaptation and preconditioning abilities for the consumption of environmental carbon sources (ECS). The results obtained in this study attributed important biological characteristics to the adaptation of the metabolism of Salmonella strains to diverse ECS; these characteristics include but are not limited to variations in plasticity and natural preconditioning in closely related microorganisms, such as environmental isolates belonging to the serotype Oranienburg.