title: The growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in low-direct current electric fields.
abstract: Electrical potentials up to 800 mV can be observed between different metallic dental restorations. These potentials produce fields in the mouth that may interfere with microbial communities. The present study focuses on the impact of different electric field strengths (EFS) on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) in vitro. Cultures of S. aureus and E. coli in fluid and gel medium were exposed to different EFS. Effects were determined by calculation of viable counts and measurement of inhibition zones. In gel medium, anodic inhibition zones for S. aureus were larger than those for E. coli at all field strength levels. In fluid medium, the maximum decrease in the viable count of S. aureus cells was at 10 V⋅m(-1). Field-treated S. aureus cells presented ruptured cell walls and disintegrated cytoplasm. Conclusively, S. aureus is more sensitive to increasing electric field strength than E. coli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, School of Dental and Oral Medicine, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Dunya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zituni
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schütt-Gerowitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, School of Dental and Oral Medicine, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krönke
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anatomy I, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Addicks
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anatomy I, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Epidemiology, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hellmich
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Dentistry, School of Dental and Oral Medicine, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, School of Dental and Oral Medicine, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Niedermeier
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000528:radiation effects; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002364:Caseins; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000528:radiation effects; D003470:Culture Media; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000528:radiation effects; D004560:Electricity; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000528:radiation effects; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D003470:Culture Media; D005782:Gels; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates; C026375:trypticase-soy broth; D014867:Water; D012965:Sodium Chloride