AimsCharacterize the phosphate-specific transport system in Cronobacter sakazakii BAA-894. Methods and ResultsThe genes relevant to phosphate transfer in C. sakazakii BAA-894 were determined by using sequence alignment to the corresponding genes in Escherichia coli. Then, the determined pst operon in C. sakazakii BAA-894 was deleted using the lambda Red recombination system. Using the wild type C. sakazakii BAA-894 as a control, the membrane permeability, auto-aggregation, exopolysaccharide biosynthesis, biofilm formation, and adhesion ability of the mutant pst grown in media containing high or low concentrations of phosphate were investigated; stronger auto-aggregation, less biofilm formation and higher adhesion ability were observed in pst cells grown in low phosphate media. Transcriptome analysis showed that phosphate availability has a global influence to C. sakazakii BAA-894 and pst cells. ConclusionsPhosphorus availability is important for C. sakazakii in many ways including biofilm formation and adhesion ability. Significance and Impact of the StudyThis study demonstrates that phosphate availability has a global influence to C. sakazakii, expends our understanding to the phosphate transfer in C. sakazakii, and is helpful for revealing the survival mechanism of C. sakazakii under stress conditions.