Unveiling the mastery of bacterial navigation: The role of methyl-accepting chemotactic proteins in sensing and mobility through environments and their promising applications in food sustainability.

Jiaxun Li, Salma A Bekhit, Guicheng Zhou, Yangfu Li, Xinmin Liang, Keyuan Qin, Moutong Chen, Liang Xue, Alaa E-D A Bekhit, Juan Wang, Qingping Wu, Yu Ding

Journal: Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.) 2025;221(Pt 2):117362

PMID: 41174437

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Abstract

Bacterial chemotaxis is the process that directs bacteria towards beneficial chemical environments or away from harmful ones, and it has a significant role in bacterial signalling pathways. Chemotaxis is guided by a group of proteins known as methyl-accepting chemotactic proteins (MCPs). This review explores the classification and structural domains of MCPs, emphasizing their role in orchestrating chemotactic signalling processes. Further, this review underscores the fundamental importance of chemotaxis in microbial life processes and its potential implications for the safety and quality of foods. We also explore the potential applications of bacterial chemotaxis in the food industry. By manipulating chemotactic processes, we can enhance precision fermentation, develop biosensors for pathogen detection, and create effective strategies for food waste biodegradation, all of which contribute to food sustainability. A deeper understanding and regulation of microbial chemotaxis offer new opportunities for improving food quality, safety, and sustainability.

Address: National Health Commission Science and Technology Innovation Platform for Nutrition and Safety of Microbial Food, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China; Department of Food Science and Engineering, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.; Department of Environmental Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21561, Egypt.; National Health Commission Science and Technology Innovation Platform for Nutrition and Safety of Microbial Food, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China.; Department of Food Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.; College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.; Department of Food Science and Engineering, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.117362

MeSH Terms: Chemotaxis, Food Microbiology, Bacteria, Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins, Signal Transduction, Bacterial Physiological Phenomena