Effects of Resonant Electromagnetic Fields on Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

" In summary, the following three results were obtained: (1) no effects of a shielded or specific magnetic field on the growth of planktonic, i.e., non-biofilm forming bacteria, (2) a variable or non-constant effect of the ambient or environmental electromagnetic field on bacterial biofilm formation, and (3) an inhibitory effect on bacterial biofilm formation at a specific frequency of the electromagnetic field." {Credits 1}

" The second finding related to the ambient electromagnetic field. When looking at the ability to form biofilm on the peg-lids, it was found that the ambient or environmental electromagnetic field in our research facility did have a non-constant effect on bacterial biofilm formation. Thus, the ambient electromagnetic field caused by natural and artificial phenomena, cannot be assumed to be constant from one experimental period to the other. For example, in any modern-day laboratory setting, electrical equipment such as refrigerators, telecommunication equipment, etc., may produce a non-negligible 50 Hz magnetic field of 500 nanoT or more. It is therefore important to control for this using, for example, a mu-metal cylinder shielding against the ambient magnetic fields." {Credits 1}

" The third finding in this study was based on using the proper control and a statistically robust biological peg-lid assay as described above. Using a magnetically shielded bacterial culture as control, it was found that exposing the bacteria to a specific electromagnetic field of 10 microT and 3.9 Hz consistently showed an inhibitory and statistically significant reduction of biofilm formation. A series of six experiments all showed an inhibitory effect, on average a 27% reduction of biofilm formation." {Credits 1}

" The specific frequency of 3.9 Hz was calculated as the Ion Cyclotron Resonance (ICR) of the potassium ion, K+, at a specific magnetic field strength. We found that tripling the magnetic field and tuning the ICR frequency did not show the same consistency as observed using the 3.9 Hz frequency. This would be expected if the resonance effect derives purely from a single ion species. However, as mentioned earlier, the effects observed are likely dependent on the protonation of water as well as the biologically relevant ion, in this case K+." {Credits 1}

{Credits 1} 🎪 Haagensen, J.A.J.; Bache, M.; Giuliani, L.; Blom, N.S. Effects of Resonant Electromagnetic Fields on Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 7760. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167760. © 2021 The Author(s). This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.