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Potential action of copper surfaces on meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Potential action of copper surfaces on meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Potential action of copper surfaces on meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Aims: atudies to date have shown rapid killing of bacterial cells when exposed to copper surfaces. The mechanistic action of copper on bacterial cells is so far unknown.

Methods and results: to investigate potential mechanisms involved, meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cells (107 CFU) were inoculated onto coupons of copper or stainless steel and stained with either the viability fluorophore 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium (CTC), to detect respiration, or BacLight™ (SYTO9/propidium iodide), to determine cell wall integrity. Coupons were then observed in-situ using epifluorescence microscopy. In addition, DNA from cells inoculated onto either copper or stainless steel surfaces was isolated and analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis. An effect on cellular respiration with CTC reduction was evident but no effect on cell membrane integrity (BacLight™) was observed. Results from the DNA isolation indicated a copper-induced detrimental effect on MRSA genomic material as no bands were observed after exposure to copper surface.

Conclusions: the results indicate that exposure to copper surfaces rapidly kills MRSA by compromising cellular respiration and damaging DNA, with little effect on cell membrane integrity.

Significance and impact of the study: this research provides a mechanistic explanation in support of previous suggestions that although copper surfaces do not affect membrane integrity of cells, there is still a rapid antimicrobial effect
1364-5072
2200-2205
Weaver, L.
6e09ef36-9aba-4b1a-9b6d-8ba2539c02fb
Noyce, J.O.
195b81fe-c6e2-4804-a8d4-4ffdca5661a1
Michels, H.T
5afc1823-e957-495b-8bf6-c719ae00d89c
Keevil, C.W.
cb7de0a7-ce33-4cfa-af52-07f99e5650eb
Weaver, L.
6e09ef36-9aba-4b1a-9b6d-8ba2539c02fb
Noyce, J.O.
195b81fe-c6e2-4804-a8d4-4ffdca5661a1
Michels, H.T
5afc1823-e957-495b-8bf6-c719ae00d89c
Keevil, C.W.
cb7de0a7-ce33-4cfa-af52-07f99e5650eb

Weaver, L., Noyce, J.O., Michels, H.T and Keevil, C.W. (2010) Potential action of copper surfaces on meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 109 (6), 2200-2205. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04852.x). (PMID:21040269)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Aims: atudies to date have shown rapid killing of bacterial cells when exposed to copper surfaces. The mechanistic action of copper on bacterial cells is so far unknown.

Methods and results: to investigate potential mechanisms involved, meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cells (107 CFU) were inoculated onto coupons of copper or stainless steel and stained with either the viability fluorophore 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium (CTC), to detect respiration, or BacLight™ (SYTO9/propidium iodide), to determine cell wall integrity. Coupons were then observed in-situ using epifluorescence microscopy. In addition, DNA from cells inoculated onto either copper or stainless steel surfaces was isolated and analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis. An effect on cellular respiration with CTC reduction was evident but no effect on cell membrane integrity (BacLight™) was observed. Results from the DNA isolation indicated a copper-induced detrimental effect on MRSA genomic material as no bands were observed after exposure to copper surface.

Conclusions: the results indicate that exposure to copper surfaces rapidly kills MRSA by compromising cellular respiration and damaging DNA, with little effect on cell membrane integrity.

Significance and impact of the study: this research provides a mechanistic explanation in support of previous suggestions that although copper surfaces do not affect membrane integrity of cells, there is still a rapid antimicrobial effect

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 11 October 2010
Published date: December 2010
Organisations: Centre for Biological Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 209299
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/209299
ISSN: 1364-5072
PURE UUID: cf5e5043-9ce6-40bc-9e14-c9f67a4d9a58
ORCID for C.W. Keevil: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1917-7706

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 27 Jan 2012 14:31
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:12

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Contributors

Author: L. Weaver
Author: J.O. Noyce
Author: H.T Michels
Author: C.W. Keevil ORCID iD

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