Cell wall as a target for bacteria inactivation by pulsed electric fields

• DOI: 10.1038/srep19778
• Publication Date: 2016-02-01T10:03:25Z
• Authors: Flavien Pillet; Cécile Formosa-Dague; Houda Baaziz; Etienne Dague; Marie-Pierre Rols
• Keywords: [SDV.IB] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Bioengineering; 0301 basic medicine; 570; 0303 health sciences; Microbial Viability; 610; Article; Disinfection; 03 medical and health sciences; [SDV.MP]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology; Electricity; Cell Wall; [SDV.IB]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Bioengineering; [SDV.MP] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology; Bacillus pumilus

Abstract The integrity and morphology of bacteria is sustained by the cell wall, target main microbial inactivation processes. One promising approach to based on use pulsed electric fields (PEF). current dogma that irreversible membrane electro-permeabilisation causes death bacteria. However, actual effect cell-wall architecture has been poorly explored. Here we combine atomic force microscopy electron study organization living Bacillus pumilus at nanoscale. For vegetative bacteria, exposure PEF led structural disorganization correlated with morphological mechanical alterations wall. spores, partial destruction coat protein nanostructures, associated internal cortex core. Our findings reveal for first time wall are directly involved in electro-eradication