The overall objective of this project is to determine the relationship between exposure to copper surfaces, lipid peroxidation, and cell death in different bacterial strains. In particular, this project explores the impact of copper exposure on the endospore-forming, gram-positive strain, Bacillus subtilis. Different time course trials were preformed to determine the correlation between copper exposure, amount of lipid peroxidation, and rate of cell death. A quantitative dilution series was used to determine bacterial cell death. The TBARS Assay was used to measure the amount of lipid peroxidation that occurs during exposure to copper. Genomic DNA was extracted to study the mode of death. Furthermore, fluorescent microscopy was done using a Live Dead Assay kit. Results indicate that cell death begins within five to ten minutes of copper exposure, except for the endospores. The increase in lipid peroxidation correlates with cell death as well as genomic DNA degradation.

Effect of copper surfaces on endospore-forming bacteria <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>

244th National Meeting (2012)

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Effect of copper surfaces on endospore-forming bacteria Bacillus subtilis