Fig. 4

Reported mechanisms of action for 10 Virulence genes in Escherichia coli are downregulated by cranberry treatment. This study has shown that the following a selection of 10 genes, which encode for virulence factors with different mechanisms, were all downregulated when exposed for Cysticlean® for 4 h at MIC. 1) uropathogenic specific protein gene (usp) encode for bacteriocin that possesses DNase activity that can degrade plasmid DNA of competing uropathogens. 2) chuA encodes for outer membrane protein that plays a key role in heme uptake. 3) hcaT encodes for permease for the uptake of phenylpropionic acid (PP), an aromatic acid that can be utilised as a carbon and energy source. 4) kpsM encodes for protein that plays a role in group 2 capsular polysaccharide synthesis. 5) ihfB encodes for specific DNA-binding protein that functions in genetic recombination as well as in transcriptional and translational control. 6) recA encodes for protein that catalysise ATP-driven homologous pairing and strand exchange of DNA molecules necessary for DNA recombinational repair. 7) soxS encode for a transcriptional activator of the superoxide response regulon of E. coli. 8) traT encodes for protein that prevents unproductive conjugation between bacteria carrying like plasmids. 9) CTX-M produces beta-lactamases that can render beta-lactams inactive. 10) sat encode for a secreted autotransporter toxin exhibits cytopathic activity and loosening of cellular junctions. These data suggested that cranberry’s antimicrobial action is multifaceted