title: The interplay between biological and physical scenarios of bacterial death induced by non-thermal plasma.
abstract: Direct interactions of plasma matter with living cells and tissues can dramatically affect their functionality, initiating many important effects from cancer elimination to bacteria deactivation. However, the physical mechanisms and biochemical pathways underlying the effects of non-thermal plasma on bacteria and cell fate have still not been fully explored. Here, we report on the molecular mechanisms of non-thermal plasma-induced bacteria inactivation in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. We demonstrate that depending on the exposure time plasma induces either direct physical destruction of bacteria or triggers programmed cell death (PCD) that exhibits characteristic features of apoptosis. The interplay between physical disruption and PCD is on the one hand driven by physical plasma parameters, and on the other hand by biological and physical properties of bacteria. The explored possibilities of the tuneable bacteria deactivation provide a basis for the development of advanced plasma-based therapies. To a great extent, our study opens new possibilities for controlled non-thermal plasma interactions with living systems.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: lunov@fzu.cz.
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lunov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vitalii
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zablotskii
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Olexander
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Churpita
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Leoš
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polívka
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Syková
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alexandr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dejneka
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic; Institute of Experimental Medicine AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Šárka
authors.initials: Š
authors.lastname: Kubinová
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D058626:Plasma Gases; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Apoptosis; Bacteria; Bacterial inactivation; Cytotoxicity; Non-thermal plasma; Reactive oxygen species (ROS)