Bacterial response to the exposure of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2008 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5033

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2008

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

To investigate the ability of prokaryotic microorganisms to activate strategies in adapting themselves to the environmental stress induced by exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF), cultures of Escherichia coli ATCC 700926 exposed at 50 Hz EMF (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 mT), and the respective sham-exposed controls were studied for: the total and culturable counts, the viability status, the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, the morphological analysis, the genotypical and transcriptional profile. Exposed samples and controls displayed similar total and culturable counts, whereas an increased cell viability was observed in exposed samples re-incubated for 24 h outside of the solenoid compared to the corresponding controls. An exposure to 50 Hz EMF of 20-120 min produced a significant change of E. coli morphotype with a presence of coccoid cells also aggregated in clusters after re-incubation of 24 h outside of the solenoid. Atypical lengthened bacterial forms were also observed suggesting a probable alteration during cell division. No changes among DNA fingerprintings and some differences in RNA-AFLP analysis were observed for each 50 Hz EMF intensities evaluated. Our results indicate that an exposure to 50 Hz EMF acts as a stressing factor on bacteria which can represent a suitable model to investigate acute and chronic effects related to ELF-EMF exposure.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro

Effect directionmixed

PopulationEscherichia coli ATCC 700926 cultures

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 20–120 min (exposure); outcomes also assessed after 24 h re-incubation outside solenoid

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposed and sham-exposed cultures showed similar total and culturable counts. Increased cell viability was observed in exposed samples after 24 h re-incubation outside the solenoid compared with controls. Exposure (20–120 min) was associated with significant morphotype changes (including coccoid cells/aggregates and lengthened forms), no changes in DNA fingerprinting, and some differences in RNA-AFLP across the tested field intensities.

Outcomes measured

Total bacterial counts
Culturable counts
Viability status
Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern
Morphological analysis (morphotype changes, coccoid/aggregates, lengthened forms)
Genotypical profile (DNA fingerprinting)
Transcriptional profile (RNA-AFLP)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Details of exposure setup beyond frequency and magnetic flux density (e.g., field uniformity) not provided in abstract
Statistical methods and magnitude of effects not described in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "20–120 min (exposure); outcomes also assessed after 24 h re-incubation outside solenoid"
  },
  "population": "Escherichia coli ATCC 700926 cultures",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Total bacterial counts",
    "Culturable counts",
    "Viability status",
    "Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern",
    "Morphological analysis (morphotype changes, coccoid/aggregates, lengthened forms)",
    "Genotypical profile (DNA fingerprinting)",
    "Transcriptional profile (RNA-AFLP)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposed and sham-exposed cultures showed similar total and culturable counts. Increased cell viability was observed in exposed samples after 24 h re-incubation outside the solenoid compared with controls. Exposure (20–120 min) was associated with significant morphotype changes (including coccoid cells/aggregates and lengthened forms), no changes in DNA fingerprinting, and some differences in RNA-AFLP across the tested field intensities.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Details of exposure setup beyond frequency and magnetic flux density (e.g., field uniformity) not provided in abstract",
    "Statistical methods and magnitude of effects not described in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "Escherichia coli",
    "in vitro",
    "magnetic field",
    "morphology",
    "viability",
    "RNA-AFLP",
    "DNA fingerprinting",
    "antimicrobial susceptibility"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1002/bem.20391
PubMed: 18175330

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