Plasma-Treated Water Retards Pellicle-like Biofilm Formation of <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>

Plasma-treated water (PTW) recently entered science as a sanitizing agent, which possess the capability for on-demand production. It offers interesting possibilities for sustainable and resource-saving applications in healthcare and food production. The present study monitors the impact of PTW on su...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas Weihe, Jan Wallis, Mareike Meister, Jörg Ehlbeck, Uta Schnabel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Microbiology Research
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/15/4/181
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Summary:Plasma-treated water (PTW) recently entered science as a sanitizing agent, which possess the capability for on-demand production. It offers interesting possibilities for sustainable and resource-saving applications in healthcare and food production. The present study monitors the impact of PTW on suspended cells before the biofilm formation of the putrefactive bacterium <i>B. subtilis.</i> Light and electron microscope imaging captures the maturing of growing biofilms within the first 24 h. Microbiological assays (proliferation, LIVE/DEAD, and XTT), which mirror the proliferation of the bacterium, the metabolic activity, and the integrity of the cell membrane, underpinning the metabolic response of still-suspended cells. <i>B. subtilis</i> cells without any treatment build up a resistive biofilm within the 24 h. Cells that remain in the supernatant predominantly appear as monomers or dimers. Treated <i>B. subtilis</i> cells have hampered biofilm formation and were not able to build up a confluent growing biofilm within the first 24 h. Moreover, the microscopic observation of PTW-treated suspension showed cellular aggregates with an unusually high connectivity of the individual cells. The findings suggest this cellular reaction as a counter measure against the adverse impact of PTW treatment. The experiments show the adverse impact of PTW on <i>B. subtilis</i>–biofilm formation and the phenomenological reaction of <i>B. subtilis</i>.
ISSN:2036-7481