Increasing applications of MW radiation has led to concerns globally due to the suspected bio effects associated with its exposure. Effect of MW, thermal and/or athermal, is inconclusive, complex, and controversial in literature. Thermal effect causes thermogenic effect while athermal effects are other than heat and such effects reported as somatic effect and/or genetic effect.
This study basically deals with the athermal effects and is aimed at investigating the hypothesis that the exposure of microbial cells to MW (low power) may cause athermal effect, which affect on growth of microbes, enzyme activity, and production of exopolysaccharides. Furthermore, we have also checked the effect of different intracellular enzymes on MW treated bacteria. Our study also gives information that MW athermal effects causes changes at genetic level and can be passed on to next generation.
There are numerous and increasing applications of MW energy and technology in the industries, in homes, in medical, research institutions etc., and there is greater awareness and concern of the public over the suspected potential health hazards associated with such exposures [ICNIRP Guidelines, 1998]. There is therefore, a need for deeper understanding of the bio-effects of exposure to this radiation. Due to the ease of handing them in laboratory, microorganisms can be conveniently used to study the effect of MW on living systems. Besides, employing mutagenic frequencies of MW radiation for microbial strain improvement can be of considerable industrial significance.
Objectives:
1. To investigate the effect of low power MW on,
a. Growth
b. Extracellular enzyme (amylase and pectinase) activity in Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutans and Pectobacterium carotovora.
c. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) in S. mutans and Xanthomonas campestris.
2. To study the effect of low power MW on,
a. Growth
b. Protein synthesis
c. Intracellular enzyme (Glucose-6-phosphatase and β- galactosidase) activity
3. To investigate mutagenic effect of MW on EPS production in X. campestris.
Table of Contents
1. Prologue
1.1 Preamble
1.2 The Importance of the Study
1.3 Statement of the Problem
1.4 Rationale of the Research Work
1.5 Objectives
2. Literature Review
2.1 Interactions of Microwave with Biological Materials
2.2 Athermal (Non-thermal) Mechanisms of Interaction
2.3 Thermal versus athermal effects
2.4 Factors affecting Microwave effects
2.5 Biological effects of Microwave radiation
2.6 Microwave mutagenesis
2.7 Effect of Microwave on higher organisms
2.8 Microwave and cellphones
2.9 Effect of Microwave on growth and enzyme activity
2.10 Amylase
2.11 Pectinase
2.12 β-galactosidase
2.13 Glucose-6-phosphatase
2.14 Xanthan gum
3. Effect of low power microwave on growth, enzyme activity (amylase and pectinase) and EPS production on different bacteria
3.1 Materials and Methods
3.1.1 Culture maintenance
3.1.2 Culture activation
3.1.3 Inoculum preparation
3.1.4 Microwave oven and its maintenance
3.1.5 Microwave treatment to inoculums
3.1.6 Growth measurement
3.1.7 Amylase estimation
3.1.8 Pectinase estimation
3.1.9 EPS quantification
3.1.10 Statistical Analysis
3.2 Results and Discussion
4. Effect of low power microwave on growth, intra- and extracellular protein and intracellular enzymes (glucose-6-phosphatase and β-galactosidase)
4.1 Materials and Methods
4.1.1 Test organisms
4.1.2 Experimental outline
4.1.3 Estimation of intra- and extracellular protein content
4.1.4 Estimation of G6P
4.1.5 Estimation of β-galactosidase
4.2 Results and discussion
5. To investigate mutagenic effect of MW on exopolysaccharide production in X. campestris
5.1 Materials and Methods
5.1.1 Test organisms
5.1.2 Microwave treatment to inoculums
5.1.3 Experimental outline
5.2 Results and discussion
6. Epilogue
7. Appendices
8. References
Research Objectives and Themes
This study aims to investigate the athermal effects of low-power microwave (MW) radiation on the biological processes of various bacteria, specifically focusing on growth patterns, enzyme activity, and the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS). The research seeks to clarify whether these radiation-induced effects can lead to genetic modifications that are transmissible to subsequent generations.
- Athermal interactions of microwaves with bacterial systems
- Modulation of growth rates and extracellular enzyme activities (amylase and pectinase)
- Impact on intracellular enzymes (glucose-6-phosphatase and β-galactosidase) and protein synthesis
- Assessment of microwave-induced mutagenesis and exopolysaccharide production in Xanthomonas campestris
- Evaluation of the inheritance of microwave-induced mutations over multiple generations
Excerpts from the Book
2.2. Athermal (Non-thermal) Mechanisms of Interaction
MW radiation seems to affect system in a manner, which cannot be explained by thermal effects alone [Spencer et al., 1985]. MW has ability to destroy bacterial cells at specific parameters without causing heating of the substrate [Barnabas et al., 2010]. MW plays role in dielectric saturation [Hyland, 1988], formation of oxidative stress [Sokolovic et al., 2008], protein unfolding [George et al., 2008], changing the structures by differentially partitioning the ions [Asadi et al., 2011], others chemical transformation of small molecules such as chemical bond cleavage [Oslen, 1966], vibrational resonance in DNA molecules [Edwards et al., 1985]. The oscillating EMF of MW couples energy into large biomolecules with several oscillations. When a large number of dipoles are present in one molecule (DNA, protein, RNA etc.) and kept under MW, enough energy can be transferred to the molecules, which would be able to break the bond.
Summary of Chapters
1. Prologue: This chapter provides an introduction to the nature of electromagnetic fields and microwaves, detailing their historical use in biological research and current industrial applications.
2. Literature Review: An overview of the existing scientific discourse regarding thermal versus athermal effects of microwave radiation, its interaction with biological materials, and its influence on specific enzymes and polymers.
3. Effect of low power microwave on growth, enzyme activity (amylase and pectinase) and EPS production on different bacteria: This chapter outlines the experimental methods and results regarding how low-power MW radiation affects the growth and enzyme output of B. subtilis, S. mutans, and other test organisms.
4. Effect of low power microwave on growth, intra- and extracellular protein and intracellular enzymes (glucose-6-phosphatase and β-galactosidase): The focus is on the measurement of protein synthesis and the catalytic activity of specific intracellular enzymes in B. subtilis, L. acidophilus, and E. coli following MW exposure.
5. To investigate mutagenic effect of MW on exopolysaccharide production in X. campestris: This section investigates the potential for microwave radiation to induce mutations that enhance EPS production, specifically xanthan gum, and explores the inheritance of these mutations over multiple generations.
6. Epilogue: A final discussion summarizing the study's findings on the athermal bio-effects of MW radiation and the implications for future research and industrial strain improvement.
Keywords
Microwave radiation, Athermal effects, Bacterial growth, Enzyme activity, Amylase, Pectinase, β-galactosidase, Glucose-6-phosphatase, Exopolysaccharide, Xanthan gum, Mutagenesis, Bio-effects, Non-ionizing radiation, Bacterial strain improvement, Membrane permeability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the athermal biological effects of low-power microwave radiation on bacteria, investigating how exposure influences their growth, metabolic activity, and genetic stability.
Which specific enzymatic activities were studied?
The study examined the impact on extracellular enzymes like amylase and pectinase, as well as intracellular enzymes, specifically glucose-6-phosphatase and β-galactosidase.
What is the main goal of the investigation?
The primary goal is to determine if low-power microwave exposure creates athermal biological changes and whether these changes result in stable, inheritable mutations in microorganisms.
What scientific methodology was employed?
The researchers used controlled low-power microwave treatment (90 W) on bacterial inocula kept on ice to avoid thermal interference, followed by biochemical assays and statistical validation using t-tests.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the systematic testing of different bacterial strains, detailed descriptions of protein synthesis measurement, EPS quantification, and the observation of mutation stability across subsequent bacterial generations.
Which key terms characterize this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as athermal microwave effects, enzyme modulation, bacterial mutagenesis, xanthan gum production, and metabolic interaction.
How did the researchers ensure that the observed effects were not merely thermal?
To exclude thermal effects, the researchers placed samples in ice-filled containers during the microwave treatment, maintaining the temperature at sub-lethal levels throughout the process.
What significant findings were observed regarding X. campestris?
The study found that specific microwave treatments could enhance xanthan gum production in X. campestris, and in certain instances, these production increases were observed to be inheritable by daughter cells, suggesting an induced mutagenic effect.
- Quote paper
- Assistant Professor Vijay Kothari (Author), Toshi Mishra (Author), Preemada Kushwah (Author), 2013, Biological effects of radiofrequency, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/269552
