Bactericidal effects of low-intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic field: an overview with phenomenon, mechanisms, targets and consequences

Abstract

Low-intensity electromagnetic field (EMF) of extremely high frequencies is a widespread environmental factor. This field is used in telecommunication systems, therapeutic practices and food protection. Particularly, in medicine and food industries EMF is used for its bactericidal effects. The significant targets of cellular mechanisms for EMF effects at resonant frequencies in bacteria could be water (H₂O), cell membrane and genome. The changes in H₂O cluster structure and properties might be leading to increase of chemical activity or hydration of proteins and other cellular structures. These effects are likely to be specific and long-term. Moreover, cell membrane with its surface characteristics, substance transport and energy-conversing processes is also altered. Then, the genome is affected because the conformational changes in DNA and the transition of bacterial pro-phages from lysogenic to lytic state have been detected. The consequences for EMF interaction with bacteria are the changes in their sensitivity to different chemicals, including antibiotics. These effects are important to understand distinguishing role of bacteria in environment, leading to changed metabolic pathways in bacteria and their antibiotic resistance. This EMF may also affect the cell-to-cell interactions in bacterial populations, since bacteria might interact with each other through EMF of sub-extremely high frequency range.

Keywords::

• Bactericidal effects
• non-thermal processes by extremely high frequency electromagnetic field
• microbial physiology and ecology
• cell membrane
• antibiotics

Acknowledgements

The authors thank to Dr. V. Kalantaryan (Department of Telecommunication and High Frequency Radiophysics, Yerevan State University, Armenia), all researchers in Prof. Trchounian’s lab taking part in the study. This study was done within the framework supported by Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia (Grants # 0167–2005, # 1012–2008, # 11F-202–2011) and by US Armenian National Science & Education Fund (Grant # NS-Microbiol-1635).

Declaration of interest

The authors have no declarations of interest.