Extremely High Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation Enforces Bacterial Effects of Inhibitors and Antibiotics

" The coherent electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of the frequency of 51.8 and 53 GHz with low intensity (the power flux density of 0.06 mW/cm²) affected the growth of Escherichia coli K12(λ) under fermentation conditions: the lowering of the growth specific rate was considerably (~2-fold) increased with exposure duration of 30–60 min; a significant decrease in the number of viable cells was also shown. Moreover, the enforced effects of the N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), inhibitor of H⁺-transporting F₀F₁-ATPase, on energy-dependent H+ efflux by whole cells and of antibiotics like tetracycline and chloramphenicol on the following bacterial growth and survival were also determined after radiation. In addition, the lowering in DCCD-inhibited ATPase activity of membrane vesicles from exposed cells was defined. The results confirmed the input of membranous changes in bacterial action of low intensity extremely high frequency EMR, when the F₀F₁-ATPase is probably playing a key role. The radiation of bacteria might lead to changed metabolic pathways and to antibiotic resistance. It may also give bacteria with a specific role in biosphere."

It's interesting to note that although 2.4 GHz is the most used frequency in Wi-fi connections, there are also other higher frequencies in the more newly protocols, for example Wi-fi 802.11ad uses a 60 GHz frequency band, there are accumulating evidences that those frequencies affect, without a doubt, at very low level emission intensities.