Adaptive responses of Kluyveromyces marxianus CCT 7735 to 2-phenylethanol stress: Alterations in membrane fatty-acid composition, ergosterol content, exopolysaccharide production and reduction in reactive oxygen species

•2-PE stress impairs K. marxianus growth, cell viability, and membrane permeability.•The plasma membrane is an important target of 2-PE in yeast.•Ergosterol and fatty-acids contents are important adaptive responses to 2-PE stress.•Exopolysaccharide and ROS levels reduction helped K. marxianus resist to 2-PE stress.