Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR) is used to analyze cells of Micrococcus luteus, the type species of the highly heterogeneous genus Micrococcus that belongs to the Micrococcaceae family. The cells of M. luteus, which is a Gram-positive and yellow-pigmented bacterium, are submitted to increasing doses of gamma radiation. Irradiation leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species that induce biochemical changes as shown in spectral profiles. Beyond a dose of 0.70 kGy, significant differences between samples are observed, particularly in the 1485-900 cm(-1) region, which contains information about membrane lipids, cell wall polysaccharides, and nucleic acids. After a dose of 16.50 kGy, M. luteus is reincubated for times ranging from 1 to 24 h. Postirradiation reincubated bacteria are found far from the control and irradiated cells (mainly in the 985-900 cm(-1) range), suggesting that a biomolecular rearrangement occurs as soon as reincubation begins in the growth medium. Thus, FTIR spectroscopy appears to be a very useful technique for the rapid visualization of the alterations induced by both the radiation and mutagenic response during reincubation. The use of mathematical methods gives good insight into the biomolecular compounds involved in these two mechanisms. In view of these preliminary results, we hypothesize that it can be successfully applied to any type of tissue and that it may be a future interesting tool for evaluating the effects of radiation in humans.

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In this study, we have investigated the postoperative plasma consequences of coral implantation into femoral condyle of rabbits. Analyses were performed using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, a sensitive and nondestructive method, to evaluate plasma modifications one day, one week, one month, and three months after surgery. This technique showed that both surgery and implantation induced important changes of lipidic compounds one day after surgery, with a body lipolysis. Major modifications appeared one week after surgery, with a decrease of protein and saccharide contents, and an increase of amino acids accompanied by a noticeable inflammatory process. These last changes were revealed by a hierarchical classification in the 1430-1295 and 1137-1092 cm(-1) spectral regions, leading to two well-separated groups, before and one week after surgery. After a delayed time of three months and despite a substantial recovery for biomolecules such as proteins and fatty acids, some alterations are always observed, such as for amino acids, triglycerides, and glycerol. Moreover, molecules implicated in the inflammatory process had not reached their initial level.

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