Linalool controls the viability of Escherichia coli by regulating the synthesis and modification of lipopolysaccharide, the assembly of ribosome, and the expression of substrate transporting proteins.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a Gram-negative bacterium and some pathogenic types may cause serious diseases, foods or food environments were the primary routes for its infection. Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl., a variety of sour orange, were used as a kind of non-conventional edible plant in China, but its antimicrobial activity and mechanisms were not well studied. Thus, in this study, EO from the flower of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. (CAEO) were studied as a kind of natural antimicrobial agent to control E. coli, our results showed that both of CAEO and its main component (linalool) exhibited strong antibacterial efficacy. Further, transcriptomic and proteomic analysis were carried out to explore cell response under linalool treatment and the main results included: (1) The synthesis and modification of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was significantly influenced. (2) Ribosomal assembly and protein synthesis were significantly inhibited. (3) The expression of proteins related to the uptake of several essential substances was significantly changed. In all, our results would supply a theoretical basis for the proper use of CAEO and linalool as a promising antimicrobial agent to prevent and control E. coli infection in the future.