Influence of alternating electromagnetic field on somatic reactions of pathogens

Abstract

Outbreaks of new infectious diseases are occurring with increasing frequency and consequences, including wildlife diseases and zoonoses. The increasing emergence of infectious pathogens has many causes, all related to increasing anthropogenic impacts on nature. Some studies show how exposure to fields can enhance or reduce cellular activity, with possible application implications in the field of biotechnology. The effects of magnetic fields at the cellular level in microbial cells may include cell viability and proliferation, apoptosis, morphological changes, changes in metabolic and enzymatic activities, changes in ion transport into the cell, and genotoxicity and changes in gene expression. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the somatic response of pathogen cells used in biotechnological processes exposed to an alternating electromagnetic field with a constant frequency of 50 Hz in three variants of exposure time. It was found that stimulation with an alternating electromagnetic field affects the somatic responses of microorganisms represented by their growth. The responses of the studied microorganisms are also related to their morphology.