doi:10.1016/j.ifset.2024.103707engNadal, LauraCebrián, GuillermoMañas, PilarExploring the mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus pulsed electric fields resistance acquisition after exposure to heat and alkaline shocksART-2024-138794This study aimed to acquire a deeper knowledge of the mechanisms of PEF resistance development after the exposure of Staphylococcus aureus to sublethal alkaline and heat shocks, with a particular focus on the modifications of cell envelope properties and their impact on electroporation and its reversion. Both shocks significantly (p < 0.05) increased the surface negative charge but they barely affected surface hydrophobicity or membrane fluidity. This resulted in an increased electroporation threshold (≈ 2 kV/cm) for alkaline-shocked but not for heat-shocked cells. Heat and alkaline shock-dependent development of PEF resistance did not require de novo RNA, protein, or lipid synthesis. Addition of nisin (100 UI/mL) to the treatment medium not only counteracted the protective effect of sublethal shocks against PEF, but even increased the lethality of PEF treatments (up to 8.9-fold increase in Log cycles of inactivation) against heat-shocked and alkaline-shocked cells.2024http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/13576310.1016/j.ifset.2024.103707http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/135763oai:zaguan.unizar.es:135763info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/A03-23Rinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MEFPD/FPU18-04898info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/UZ/JIUZ-2017-CIE-01INNOVATIVE FOOD SCIENCE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 95 (2024), 103707 [9 pp.]by-nc-ndhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.esinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess