title: Inactivation of Escherichia coli by O- water.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the effects of O(-) (atomic oxygen radical anion) water on the viability and morphological alteration of Escherichia coli.
  
  
  RESULTS
  O(-) water (OW) was prepared by bubbling of O(-)/argon (Ar) flux into deionized water. O(-) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in the resultant OW were analysed by electron paramagnetic resonance and ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy. The population of E. coli treated by a typical OW of pH 4.30 +/- 0.20 [(2.5 +/- 0.8) x 10(-3) mmol l(-1) O(-); 0.5 +/- 0.2 mmol l(-1) H(2)O(2)) was reduced by more than 3 log CFU ml(-1) within 60 min at 30 degrees C. Through scanning electron microscopy observation, the OW-treated cells appeared dramatically collapsed. The release of nucleic acid induced by OW was identified by UV absorption spectroscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  O(-) water can result in inactivation of E. coli, nucleic acid release and cellular damage under the controlled laboratory conditions in excess of 15-30 min. Reactive oxygen species may play an important role in the inactivation process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study first revealed that OW could inactivate E. coli, which may be potentially useful in developing a novel approach for the microbial decontamination of food, water or heat-sensitive material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Torimoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadakata
authors.forename: Q X
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004572:Electrolysis; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014867:Water; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide