Killing of bacteria by copper surfaces involves dissolved copper - PubMed (original) (raw)

Killing of bacteria by copper surfaces involves dissolved copper

Cristina Molteni et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Bacteria are rapidly killed on copper surfaces. However, the mechanism of this process remains unclear. Using Enterococcus hirae, the effect of inactivation of copper homeostatic genes and of medium compositions on survival and copper dissolution was tested. The results support a role for dissolved copper ions in killing.

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Figures

FIG. 1.

FIG. 1.

Survival of E. hirae wild-type and mutant cells in growth media on copper and stainless steel surfaces. Cells in growth media were applied to copper or stainless steel coupons, incubated at room temperature for the times indicated, and washed off with phosphate-buffered saline. Survival was determined by plating serial dilutions on N plates. (A) Survival of wild-type E. hirae on stainless steel coupons (▴) or copper coupons (•) and survival of a Δ_copB_ mutant on copper coupons (○). (B) Survival of E. hirae Δ_copA_ (▪), Δ_copAB_ (□), and Δ_copY_ (×) mutants on copper coupons. All measurements were conducted in triplicate, and the error bars indicate standard deviations.

FIG. 2.

FIG. 2.

Survival of E. hirae wild-type and mutant cells on copper surfaces in different media. Cells were washed and applied to copper coupons in 0.1 M Tris-Cl, pH 7 (A), water (B), or 100 mM NaPi, pH 7 (C). Survival was assessed as described in the legend for Fig. 1. •, wild type; ○, Δ_copB_ mutant; □, Δ_copAB_ mutant. All measurements were conducted in triplicate, and the error bars indicate standard deviations.

FIG. 3.

FIG. 3.

Copper release from coupons into the aqueous phase. Aliquots of 20 μl of 0.1 M Tris-Cl buffer, pH 7 (•), spent M17 medium (▴), NaPi, pH 7 (▵), and water (○) were applied to copper coupons and incubated at room temperature for the times indicated, and the copper content of the aqueous phase was determined. All measurements were conducted in triplicate, and the error bars indicate standard deviations.

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