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Plasma Sterilization for Bacterial Inactivation: Studies on Probable Mechanisms and Biochemical Actions

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Abstract

The underlying mechanisms and biochemical actions responsible for inactivation of pathogenic gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Salmonella abony (S. abony) bacteria upon exposure to sub-atmospheric plasma has been investigated. Reduction in colony forming units of the bacteria is established in 60 min and 40 min for S. aureus and S. abony respectively via 6-log reduction curves. The percentage change in reactive oxygen species, such as •OH and H2O2 formed on bacterial membrane during plasma exposure are analysed using spectroflurometer. S. aureus exhibited a significant increase of 324.23% and 1554.84% in •OH and H2O2 radicals respectively. Whereas, 98.14% and 54.49% increase in •OH and H2O2 radicals respectively was observed in S. abony. The oxidation and degradation of DNA is analysed using an ultra violet visible spectrophotometer. The leakage of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acid molecules due to plasma exposure is studied by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The alteration of secondary protein structure on the cell membrane is observed using Circular Dichroism. Upon exposure to plasma, S. aureus shows a secondary protein structural transition from α-helix (2.4%), β-sheet (78.3%) mixture to modified β-sheet structure (0% α-helix, 79.1% β-sheet). Whereas, S.abony shows a transition from α-helix (1%), β-sheet (64.9%) mixture to modified β-sheet structure (0% α-helix, 74.5% β-sheet). The bacterial morphological study (swelling/shrinking) done using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) reveals the deformation of cell membrane. Above findings pave the way for a better understanding of the processes of antimicrobial inactivation strategies when the plasma sterilization process is employed.

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Availability of Data and Materials

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, for providing the necessary laboratory and instrumentation facilities for carrying out microbiological investigations.

Funding

This study was funded by Department of Atomic Energy, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facilitation Centre for Industrial Plasma Technologies, Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382428, India

    Tejal Barkhade, Kushagra Nigam, G. Ravi & S. K. Nema

  2. Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India

    G. Ravi & S. K. Nema

  3. School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382030, India

    Seema Rawat

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  1. Tejal Barkhade
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  2. Kushagra Nigam
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Contributions

TB, KN, GR, and SKN were involved in the conceptualization of the study. TB handled material preparation, data collection, and analysis. TB wrote the main draft of the manuscript and GR, KN, SR, and SKN provided feedback after reviewing subsequent versions. KN and GR have designed and developed the plasma system. The final manuscript was reviewed and approved by all authors.

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Correspondence to Tejal Barkhade.

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Barkhade, T., Nigam, K., Ravi, G. et al. Plasma Sterilization for Bacterial Inactivation: Studies on Probable Mechanisms and Biochemical Actions. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 44, 429–454 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-023-10429-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-023-10429-5

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