title: Killing of bacteria by copper surfaces involves dissolved copper.
abstract: Bacteria are rapidly killed on copper surfaces. However, the mechanism of this process remains unclear. Using Enterococcus hirae, the effect of inactivation of copper homeostatic genes and of medium compositions on survival and copper dissolution was tested. The results support a role for dissolved copper ions in killing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Visceral Research, University of Berne, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.forename: Helge K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Abicht
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solioz
mesh_terms: D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000633:toxicity; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D003470:Culture Media; D003300:Copper