Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2002
DOI
10.1063/1.1494863
Publication Title
Applied Physics Letters
Volume
81
Issue
4
Pages
772-774
Abstract
To date, most research on the interaction of nonequilibrium, atmospheric pressure plasma discharges with bacteria has concentrated on the germicidal effects. Therefore, published results deal mainly with killing efficacy and little attention is given to physical mechanisms and biochemical pathways and their potential alterations when cells of microorganisms are exposed to the plasma. In this letter, an attempt to investigate the effects of plasma exposure on the biochemical pathways of bacteria is presented. In addition, using electron microscopy, we investigate if any gross morphological changes take place when cells are exposed to a lethal dose of plasma. We are testing the hypothesis that disruption of the cell membrane, sometimes to the point of cell lysis, is the mechanism whereby plasma kills cells. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.
Original Publication Citation
Laroussi, M., Richardson, J.P., & Dobbs, F.C. (2002). Effects of nonequilibrium atmospheric pressure plasmas on the heterotrophic pathways of bacteria and on their cell morphology. Applied Physics Letters, 81(4), 772-774. doi: 10.1063/1.1494863
Repository Citation
Laroussi, Mounir; Richardson, J. Paul; and Dobbs, Fred C., "Effects of Nonequilibrium Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas on the Heterotrophic Pathways of Bacteria and on their Cell Morphology" (2002). OES Faculty Publications. 5.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_fac_pubs/5