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Extremely High Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation Enforces Bacterial Effects of Inhibitors and Antibiotics

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Abstract

The coherent electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of the frequency of 51.8 and 53 GHz with low intensity (the power flux density of 0.06 mW/cm2) affected the growth of Escherichia coli K12(λ) under fermentation conditions: the lowering of the growth specific rate was considerably (~2-fold) increased with exposure duration of 30–60 min; a significant decrease in the number of viable cells was also shown. Moreover, the enforced effects of the N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), inhibitor of H+-transporting F0F1-ATPase, on energy-dependent H+ efflux by whole cells and of antibiotics like tetracycline and chloramphenicol on the following bacterial growth and survival were also determined after radiation. In addition, the lowering in DCCD-inhibited ATPase activity of membrane vesicles from exposed cells was defined. The results confirmed the input of membranous changes in bacterial action of low intensity extremely high frequency EMR, when the F0F1-ATPase is probably playing a key role. The radiation of bacteria might lead to changed metabolic pathways and to antibiotic resistance. It may also give bacteria with a specific role in biosphere.

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Acknowledgements

This study was done within the framework supported by Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia (Grants # 0167-2005 and # 1012-2008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Faculty, Department of Biophysics, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoukian Str., 0025, Yerevan, Armenia

    Hasmik Tadevosyan & Armen Trchounian

  2. Radiophysics Faculty, Department of High Frequency Radiophysics and Telecommunication, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoukian Str., 0025, Yerevan, Armenia

    Vitaly Kalantaryan

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  1. Hasmik Tadevosyan
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Correspondence to Armen Trchounian.

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Tadevosyan, H., Kalantaryan, V. & Trchounian, A. Extremely High Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation Enforces Bacterial Effects of Inhibitors and Antibiotics. Cell Biochem Biophys 51, 97–103 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-008-9020-9

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