title: Ultrasound increases the rate of bacterial cell growth.
abstract: Ultrasound was employed to increase the growth rate of bacterial cells attached to surfaces. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli cells adhered to and grew on a polyethylene surface in the presence of ultrasound. It was found that low-frequency ultrasound (70 kHz) of low acoustic intensity (<2 W/cm(2)) increased the growth rate of the cells compared to growth without ultrasound. However, at high intensity levels, cells were partially removed from the surface. Ultrasound also enhanced planktonic growth of S. epidermidis and other planktonic bacteria. It is hypothesized that ultrasound increases the rate of transport of oxygen and nutrients to the cells and increases the rate of transport of waste products away from the cells, thus enhancing their growth.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA. pitt@byu.edu
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Pitt
authors.forename: S Aaron
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013045:Species Specificity; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014465:Ultrasonics