Orchestrating infection: the impact of RyfA and TimR sRNAs on stress resistance and virulence in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in chickens.

mutant is intrinsically linked to effects caused by TimR in the absence of RyfA. Elucidating the regulatory interplay between RyfA and TimR will advance understanding of APEC pathogenesis and may highlight conserved sRNA targets for novel therapeutic approaches. IMPORTANCE: abrogated any phenotypic effects on virulence or stress resistance, suggesting the potential interplay between these sRNAs in gene regulation. These results demonstrate the critical role of RyfA for APEC pathogenesis and suggest that conserved sRNA-mediated regulatory pathways could provide future targets for prevention or treatment to improve poultry health and food safety.