title: The persistent microbicidal effect in water exposed to the corona discharge.
abstract: This article describes and particularly explains a new phenomenon of persistent microbicidal effect of water previously exposed to the low-temperature plasma, which cannot be attributed to the acidification only. The direct microbicidal action of plasma is well documented, being mediated by number of reactive particles with a short lifetime. However, we observed the microbicidal effect also in exposed water stored for a month, where it must be mediated by stable particles. In water and in phosphate-buffered saline, the formation of NO(x) and corresponding acids, H(2)O(2) and O(3) was confirmed after exposition to the low-temperature plasma generated in air by DC negative glow corona and positive streamer discharge. The time course of acidification, H(2)O(2) and O(3) formation were deremined. Except uncertain traces of HCN, SIFT-MS analysis of exposed liquids reveals no additional reactive compounds. The microbicidal effect persists almost unchanged during 4 weeks of storage, although O(3) completely and H(2)O(2) almost disappears. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli were inactivated within 10 min of incubation in exposed liquids, Candida albicans needs at least 1 h. The solutions prepared by artificial mixing of reactive compounds mimic the action of exposed water, but in lesser extent. The acid milieu is the main cause of the microbicidal effect, but the possibility of still unidentified additional compound remains open.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Studničkova 7, 128 00 Praha 2, Czech Republic. jaroslav.julak@lf1.cuni.cz
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Julák
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scholtz
authors.forename: Soňa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kotúčová
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Janoušková
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010126:Ozone / Q000737:chemistry; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D058626:Plasma Gases; D014867:Water; D010126:Ozone; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide