title: Bacterial killing by dry metallic copper surfaces.
abstract: Metallic copper surfaces rapidly and efficiently kill bacteria. Cells exposed to copper surfaces accumulated large amounts of copper ions, and this copper uptake was faster from dry copper than from moist copper. Cells suffered extensive membrane damage within minutes of exposure to dry copper. Further, cells removed from copper showed loss of cell integrity. Acute contact with metallic copper surfaces did not result in increased mutation rates or DNA lesions. These findings are important first steps for revealing the molecular sensitive targets in cells lethally challenged by exposure to copper surfaces and provide a scientific explanation for the use of copper surfaces as antimicrobial agents for supporting public hygiene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, and Marine and Environmental Research Center (IMAR-CMA), 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Espírito Santo
authors.forename: Ee Wen
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Christian G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Elowsky
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.forename: Dylan W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Domaille
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grass
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D034301:Deinococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003300:Copper