Effects of certain physical stresses on the composition of the membrane of bacteria implicated in food and environmental contamination

ABSTRACT

Bacterial membranes are implicated in the adaptation process of bacteria to numerous environmental conditions. In this context, our aim was to explain the consequences of a few physical stressor factors, like UV radiations and magnetic fields underlying the structural adaptation of cellular membranes to physical factors. The goal was also to review the state of the art about the link between membrane composition and bacterial resistance. According to comparative studies between ionizing γ-radiation, non-ionizing UVc radiations and Static Magnetic Field SMF, the response of some Gram negative bacteria appears to be generalized and was manifested by a membrane unsaturation, because of a production peak of unsaturated fatty acids. However, disturbances found inside the membrane, after UVB and Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) exposure were marked by a lower unsaturated fatty acids rate. This result is not concordant to disturbance seen after UVC treatment, even if the treatment is by UV radiation.

KEYWORDS:

• Ionizing radiations
• non-ionizing radiations
• magnetic fields
• fatty acid
• bacteria

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Professor Hassen Abdenaceur for providing the team with data regarding UV treatment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.