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Metabolic effects of static magnetic fields on streptococcus pyogenes
Author(s) -
Morrow A.C.,
Dunstan R.H.,
King B.V.,
Roberts T.K.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.20332
Subject(s) - streptococcus pyogenes , metabolite , anaerobic exercise , chemistry , metabolism , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , bacteria , physiology , genetics , staphylococcus aureus
This study aimed to develop a simple experimental system utilising bacterial cells to investigate the dose responses resulting from exposures to static magnetic flux densities ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 T on viability, bacterial metabolism and levels of DNA damage in Streptococcus pyogenes . Exposure of S . pyogenes to a field of 0.3 T at 24 °C under anaerobic conditions resulted in a significant ( P < 0.05) decrease in growth rate, with an increased mean generation time of 199 ± 6 min compared to the control cells at 165 ± 6 min ( P < 0.05). Conversely, exposure to magnetic fields of 0.5 T significantly accelerated the growth rate at 24 °C compared to control cells, with a decreased mean generation time of 147 ± 4 min ( P < 0.05). The patterns of metabolite release from cells incubated in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 24 °C and exposed to different magnetic flux densities (0.05–0.5 T) were significantly ( P < 0.05) altered, compared to non‐exposed controls. Concentrations of metabolites, with the exception of aspartic acid ( r = 0.44), were not linearly correlated with magnetic flux density, with all other r < 0.20. Instead, “window” effects were observed, with 0.25–0.3 T eliciting the maximal release of the majority of metabolites, suggesting that magnetic fields of these strengths had significant impacts on metabolic homeostasis in S. pyogenes . The exposure of cells to 0.3 T was also found to significantly reduce the yield of 8‐hydroxyguanine in extracted DNA compared to controls, suggesting some possible anti‐oxidant protection to S . pyogenes at this field strength. Bioelectromagnetics 28:439–445, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.