Killing of Bacteria by Copper Surfaces Involves Dissolved Copper

Abstract

Bacteria are rapidly killed on copper surfaces. However, the mechanism of this process remains unclear. Using Enterococcus hirae, the effect of inactivation of copper homeostatic genes and of medium compositions on survival and copper dissolution was tested. The results support a role for dissolved copper ions in killing.

Effect of Cu2+ ion on Biological Performance of Nanostructured Fluorapatite Doped with Copper

“…These spectra show the existence of phosphate groups (PO 3 4 ) at 471 cm 1 corresponding to asymmetrical 2 stretching vibration [23,24]. Besides, a doublet appears at 568 and 599 cm 1 corresponding to 4 bending vibrations [25,26]. As stated in the literature [27], the presence of the band at 743 cm 1 is due to the increase of F content in the (OH , F ) apatite chain, while the con guration of OH...F is predominant in F rich chains containing only a few (OH ) and almost pure uorapatite obtained.…”

“…Therefore, synthesis of the metal ionsubstituted bioceramics with antimicrobial properties can be a good strategy to decrease the rate of biomaterials infections. Copper and its alloys have been registered in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the rst solid antimicrobial material capable of deactivating microbes upon contact [3,4]. Copperdoped uorapatite (Cu x .Ca (10 x) .…”

Survival of Escherichia coli Cells on Solid Copper Surfaces Is Increased by Glutathione

“…This effect has been demonstrated for bacteria such as pathogenic Escherichia coli strains (4), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (6), Burkholderia cepacia (7), and Salmonella enterica (8), as well as for viruses (9,10) and yeasts (11). Copper ions need to be released from the copper surfaces to mediate the killing process (12,13), and there has to be direct contact between the cell and the copper surface (14). Therefore, a variety of parameters influence the success of the inactivation process by interfering with copper release and the availability of the copper ions for the killing action: (i) temperature, (ii) humidity, (iii) ionization/corrosion, (iv) the dry/ wet test protocol used, and (v) the content of organic material (6,15,16).…”

Actividad de cobre sobre cocáceas grampositivas multi-resistentes a los antibióticos aisladas en hospitales chilenos

“…El fenómeno presente en las cepas ERV pone en evidencia una preocupante situación con relación al tratamiento y la potencial selección de estos fenotipos en ambientes hospitalarios donde se utilice cobre como agente antimicrobiano de superficies. Esto se debe a que se ha descrito que la presencia de mayores grados de tolerancia a cobre iónico otorgaría una mayor sobrevida bacteriana en superficies cobrizadas 20,21 , lo que se explica debido a que la actividad antimicrobiana del metal es mediada por la liberación de iones de cobre 12 .…”