Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the antibacterial mechanism of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. Essential oil against GBS

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS), is one of the primary pathogens causing bovine mastitis. It is also a major cause of invasive neonatal infections such as meningitis, pneumonia, and bacteremia. In this study, the antibacterial effect of Zantheoxylum bungeanum essential oil (ZBEO) against GBS was evaluated through determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and microstructure observation. Additionally, an integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics was conducted after treatment with ZBEO. Results showed that ZBEO had a good inhibitory effect on GBS and significant effects on its transcription and metabolic levels. We found that ZBEO can disrupt the physiological metabolism of GBS by inhibiting peptidoglycan biosynthesis, disrupting lipid metabolism, limiting amino acid metabolism, inhibiting the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and inhibiting the pentose phosphate pathway. These findings provide a theoretical basis for ZBEO as a novel natural antibacterial agent against microbial infections.