Effects of sound elements on growth, viability and protein production yield in Escherichia coli

Abstract

BACKGROUND The effect of sound on biological systems has been addressed previously in the literature. However, most studies addressing this topic focus on the characterization of the effect of frequency on biological systems. In this regard the effect of other soundwave elements has been overlooked. In the present work, the effects of frequency, amplitude, duration, intermittence and pulse – individually and in combination – were tested with Escherichia coli by measuring biomass, viability and recombinant production yield, generating a deeper understanding of the effect of sound on bacterial systems. RESULTS Frequency and duration treatments influenced biomass concentration, increasing its value 19% and 44%, respectively, when compared with the standard treatment at time 24 h. However, such treatments showed high variability. Amplitude had a significant effect on biomass viability, doubling the duration of the exponential phase. Concerning protein production, intermittence increased the yield of recombinant protein 1.5 times without the contribution of any other sound element. CONCLUSIONS It was established that intermittence and amplitude have a relevant role in protein production yield and viability, respectively. Other sound elements such as frequency and duration seem to have effect on biomass concentration, although a high variability was observed under those treatments. These results contribute to a better understanding of the effect of the sound elements, both individually and in combination, on bacterial systems. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Direct liquid transmission of sound has little impact on fermentation performance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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Pilot Aquaphotomic Study of the Effects of Audible Sound on Water Molecular Structure

“…There are many records documenting how sound affects biomolecules in water solutions, single-cells and even whole organisms, plants especially [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. One study showed that audible sound in the form of music (38–689 Hz) was able to affect growth, metabolism and antibiotic susceptibility of prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic microbes [ 8 , 9 ].…”