Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
We are sorry, but NCBI web applications do not support your browser and may not function properly. More information
    AMB Express. 2011 Nov 11;1(1):39. doi: 10.1186/2191-0855-1-39.

    Differential Gene Expression to Investigate the Effects of Low-level Electrochemical Currents on Bacillus subtilis.

    Source

    Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA. dren@syr.edu.

    Abstract

    With the emergence and spread of multidrug resistant bacteria, effective methods to eliminate both planktonic bacteria and those embedded in surface-attached biofilms are needed. Electric currents at μA-mA/cm2 range are known to reduce the viability of bacteria. However, the mechanism of such effects is still not well understood. In this study, Bacillus subtilis was used as the model Gram-positive species to systematically investigate the effects of electrochemical currents on bacteria including the morphology, viability, and gene expression of planktonic cells, and viability of biofilm cells. The data suggest that weak electrochemical currents can effectively eliminate B. subtilis both as planktonic cells and in biofilms. DNA microarray results indicate that the genes associated with oxidative stress response, nutrient starvation, and membrane functions were induced by electrochemical currents. These findings suggest that ions and oxidative species generated by electrochemical reactions might be important for the killing effects of these currents.

    PMID:
    22078549
    [PubMed]
    PMCID:
    PMC3294250
    Free PMC Article

    Images from this publication.See all images (6)Free text

    Figure 1
    Figure 3
    Figure 5
    Figure 2
    Figure 4
    Figure 6

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for BioMed Central Icon for PubMed Central

      Save items

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk