Abstract
Water is the major constituent of environmental medium and biological systems. The effects occurring in water as a result of low-intensity electromagnetic irradiation (EMI) in extremely high frequencies are supposed to be the primary mechanism to create conditions for biological responses. The EMI effects on Escherichia coli, after irradiation of their suspension, are most probably water-mediated. Indirect effects of EMI at 51.8, 53, 70.6, and 73 GHz frequencies on bacteria, through water, assay buffer (Tris–phosphate buffer with inorganic salts at low or moderate concentrations), or peptone growth medium were studied. The mediated effects of 70.6 and 73 GHz irradiated water, assay buffer, and growth medium on E. coli growth characteristics were insignificant. But the results were different for 51.8 and 53 GHz. EMI mediated effects on bacterial growth were clearly demonstrated. The effects were more strongly expressed with 53 GHz. Moreover, it was shown that 70.6 and 73 GHz similarly suppressed the cell growth after direct irradiation of E. coli in water or on solid medium. Interestingly, for 51.8 and 53 GHz the bacterial growth decreases after suspension irradiation was less, compared to the direct irradiation of bacteria on solid medium. Especially, it was also more expressed in case of 53 GHz. Also with electron microscopy, EMI-induced bacterial cell sizes and structure different changes were detected. In addition, the distinguished changes in surface tension, oxidation–reduction potential and pH of water, assay buffer, growth medium, and bacterial suspension were determined. They depended on EMI frequency used. The differences could be associated with the partial absorbance of EMI energy by the surrounding medium, which depends on a specific frequency. The results are crucial to understand biophysical mechanisms of EMI effects on bacteria.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Banik, S., Bandyopadhyay, S., & Ganguly, S. (2003). Bioeffects of microwave—a brief review. Bioresource Technology, 87, 155–159.
Belyaev, I. (2005). Non-thermal biological effects of microwaves: Current knowledge, further perspective, and urgent needs. Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 24, 375–403.
Binhi, V., & Rubin, A. (2007). Magnetobiology: The kT paradox and possible solutions. Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 26, 45–62.
Guofen, Yu., Coln, E., Schoenbach, K., Gellerman, M., Fox, P., Rec, L., et al. (2002). A study on biological effects of low-intensity millimeter waves. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 30, 1489–1496.
Torgomyan, H., & Trchounian, A. (2012). Bactericidal effects of low-intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic field: An overview with phenomenon, mechanisms, targets and consequences. Critical Reviews in Microbiology. doi:10.3109/1040841X.2012.691461.
Betskii, O., Devyatkov, N., & Kislov, V. (2000). Low intensity millimeter waves in medicine and biology. Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, 28, 247–268.
Pakhomov, A., Yahya, A., Pakhomova, O., Stuck, B., & Murphy, M. (1998). Current state and implications of research on biological effects of millimeter waves. Bioelectromagnetics, 19, 393–413.
Ruediger, H. W. (2009). Genotoxic effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Pathophysiology, 16, 89–102.
Cohen, I., Cahan, R., Shani, G., Cohen, E., & Abramovich, A. (2010). Effect of 99 GHz continuous millimeter wave electro-magnetic radiation on E. coli viability and metabolic activity. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 86, 390–399.
Hyland, G. (2008). Physical basis of adverse and therapeutic effects of low intensity microwave radiation. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 46, 403–419.
Isakhanyan, V., & Trchounian, A. (2005). Indirect and repeated electromagnetic irradiation with extremely high frequency of bacteria Escherichia coli. Biophysics, 50, 604–606.
Tadevosyan, H., Kalantaryan, V., & Trchounian, A. (2006). Direct and mediated effects of the extremely high frequency coherent electromagnetic radiation (millimeter waves) with low intensity on bacteria. In Proceedings of Biological effects of EMFs (pp. 1307–1314). Crete, Greece.
Tadevosyan, H., Kalantaryan, V., & Trchounian, A. (2008). Extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation enforces bacterial effects of inhibitors and antibiotics. Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 51, 97–103.
Torgomyan, H., Kalantaryan, V., & Trchounian, A. (2011). Low intensity electromagnetic irradiation with 70.6 and 73 GHz frequencies affects Escherichia coli growth and changes water properties. Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 60, 275–281.
Torgomyan, H., Tadevosyan, H., & Trchounian, A. (2011). Extremely high frequency electromagnetic irradiation in combination with antibiotics enhances antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli. Current Microbiology, 62, 962–967.
Torgomyan, H., & Trchounian, A. (2011). Low-intensity electromagnetic irradiation of 70.6 and 73 GHz frequencies enhances the effects of disulfide bonds reducer on Escherichia coli growth and affects the bacterial surface oxidation–reduction state. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 414, 265–269.
Torgomyan, H., & Trchounian, A. (2012). Escherichia coli membrane-associated energy-dependent processes and sensitivity toward antibiotics changes as responses to low-intensity electromagnetic irradiation of 70.6 and 73 GHz frequencies. Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 62, 451–461.
Caubet, R., Pedarros-Caubet, F., Chu, M., Freye, E., de Belém Rodrigues, M., Moreau, J., et al. (2004). A radio frequency electric current enhances antibiotic efficacy against bacterial biofilms. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 48, 4662–4664.
Geveke, D., Brunkhorst, Ch., & Fan, Xu. (2007). Radio frequency electric fields processing of orange juice. Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, 8, 549–554.
Ukuku, D., Geveke, D., Cooke, P., & Zhang, H. (2008). Membrane damage and viability loss of K-12 in apple juice treated with radio frequency electric field. Journal of Food Protection, 71, 684–690.
Reguera, G. (2011). When microbial conversations get physical. Trends in Microbiology, 19, 105–116.
Trushin, M. (2003). The possible role of electromagnetic fields in bacterial communication. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection, 36, 153–160.
Nikolaev, Yu. (2000). Distant interactions in bacteria. Microbiology, 69, 497–503.
Trchounian, A., Ogandzhanyan, E., Sarkisyan, E., Gonyan, S., Oganesyan, A., & Oganesyan, S. (2001). Membranotropic effects of electromagnetic irradiation of extremely high frequency in Escherichia coli. Biophysics, 46, 69–76.
Belyaev, I., Shcheglov, V., Alipov, Y., & Polunin, V. (1996). Resonance effect of millimeter waves in the power range from 10(−19) to 3 × 10(−3) W/cm2 on Escherichia coli cells at different concentrations. Bioelectromagnetics, 17, 312–321.
Kandashev, V., & Savin, A. (1997). Resonance effects of microwaves are caused by their interaction with solitons in α-helical proteins. Electro- and Magnetobiology, 16, 95–106.
Neshev, N., & Kirilova, E. (1994). Possible nonthermal influence of millimeter waves on proton transfer in biomembranes. Electro- and Magnetobiology, 13, 191–194.
Fesenko, E., Geletyuk, V., Kazachenko, V., & Chemeris, N. (1995). Preliminary microwave irradiation of water solutions changes their channel-modifying activity. FEBS Letters, 366, 49–52.
Golovleva, V., Kopylova, T., Levdikova, T., & Tsyganok, Yu. (1997). Change in the electrophysical properties of water by microwave radiation. Russian Physics Journal, 40, 327–331.
Sinitsyn, N., Petrosyan, V., Yolkin, V., Devyatkov, N., Gulyaev, Yu., & Betskii, O. (2000). Special function of the “millimeter wavelength waves—aqueous medium” system in nature. Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, 28, 269–305.
Teissie, J. (2007). Biophysical effects of electric fields on membrane water interfaces: A mini review. European Biophysics Journal, 36, 967–972.
Kuznetsov, P. E., Rogachev, S. M., Somov, A. Yu., Popykhova, E. B., & Denysova, S. A. (2006). The influence of the hydrogen bonds network state of near the surface of water on the bioeffects of EMI EHF. Biomedical Technology and Radioelectronics, 12, 16–20.
Belovolova, L. V., Glushkov, M. V., Vinogradov, E. A., Babintsev, V. A., & Golovanov, V. I. (2009). Ultraviolet fluorescence of water and highly diluted aqueous media. Physics of Wave Phenomena, 17, 21–31.
Khurgin, Yu., Baranov, A., & Vorob’ev, M. (1994). Hydrophobic hydration of aliphatic amino acids. Russian Chemical Bulletin, 43, 1920–1922.
Hovnanyan, K., Davtyan, H., Sargsyan, Ch., & Trchounian, A. (2010). Nanostructures of some viruses, bacterial and protozoa cells: Electronic microscopy and morphometric analysis. Reports of the National Academic of Science of Armenia, 110, 277–284.
Hovnanyan, K., & Trchounian, A. (2009). Cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane structures of some bacteria: novel data and role in pathology. In A. Trchounian (Ed.), Bacterial membranes (pp. 1–21). Trivandrum: Research Signpost.
Hermbecker, K., von Alvensleben, L., Butt, R., Grünemaier, A., & Sandvob, R. (2005). Surface tension by the ring method (Du Nouy method). In Laboratory experiments physics (7th ed., pp. 57–58). Göttingen: PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co.
Shamis, Yu., Taube, Al., Mitik-Dineva, N., Croft, R., Crawford, R., & Ivanova, E. (2011). Specific electromagnetic effects of microwave radiation on Escherichia coli. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 77, 3017–3022.
Morozov, I., Petin, V., & Dubovick, B. (1995). Effects of microwave radiation on bacteria Escherichia colo B/r and Escherichia coli Bs-1. Electro- and Magnetobiology, 14, 149–153.
Yemets, B. (2001). On mechanism of influence of low intense millimeter waves on air content in water. International Journal of Infrared Millimeter Waves, 22, 639–643.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. V. Ohanyan for help with improving English language. This study was done within the framework supported by Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia (Basic support).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Torgomyan, H., Hovnanyan, K. & Trchounian, A. Escherichia coli Growth Changes by the Mediated Effects After Low-Intensity Electromagnetic Irradiation of Extremely High Frequencies. Cell Biochem Biophys 65, 445–454 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-012-9448-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-012-9448-9