Bet-hedging and division of labor: How phenotypic heterogeneity helps foodborne pathogens adapt to diverse environmental stresses.

Abstract

Foodborne bacteria need to face multiple stresses continuously or simultaneously at different stages of food production and in the host's body, including pre-harvest, processing and gastrointestinal digestion stage. Phenotypic heterogeneity refers to the phenotypic differences between cells with the same genetic background and environment. Bacteria can utilize phenotypic heterogeneity to achieve population level functionality and adapt to diverse environmental stresses. This review provides a systematic overview of the mechanisms underlying bacterial phenotypic heterogeneity and how it enhances bacterial adaptation to complex environments through bet-hedging and division of labor strategies. Summarize current research findings on how heterogeneity enables collective functions that help bacteria adapt to their environment. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive theoretical foundation for subsequent studies and to present a perspective for developing targeted interventions to ensure food safety.