title: Exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic field affects biofilm formation by cystic fibrosis pathogens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the in vitro effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) on growth and biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains from cystic fibrosis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The motion of selected ions (Fe, Ca, Cu, Zn, Mg, K, Na) was stimulated by the ion resonance effect, then influence on growth and biofilm formation/viability was assessed by spectrophotometry or viability count.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Generally, exposure to ELF-MF significantly increased bacterial growth and affected both biofilm formation and viability, although with differences with regard to ions and species considered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to ELF-MF represents a possible new approach for treatment of biofilm-associated cystic fibrosis lung infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental & Clinical Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Bonaventura
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pompilio
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crocetta
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Nicola
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.forename: Livio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Emilia
authors.forename: Ersilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fiscarelli
authors.forename: Rosa Grazia
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saggini
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D016956:Burkholderia cepacia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D050296:Microbial Viability; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D020615:Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels
keywords: Burkholderia cepacia; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia; biofilm formation; cystic fibrosis; extremely low-frequency magnetic field; lung infection