Effect of ultra-strong static magnetic field on bacteria: application of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy combined with cluster analysis and deconvolution

Abstract

A new method based on Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with cluster analysis and deconvolution was established to investigate the biological effect of an ultra-strong static magnetic field (SMF) of 10.0 T on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. FTIR spectroscopy was applied to characterize the spectroscopic fingerprints of these bacterial cells with or without the treatment of the SMF. After the calculation, the results of cluster analysis indicated that the SMF had significant effects on E. coli compared with S. aureus, and the effects were reflected by the changes of spectral region of 1500-1200 cm(-1). The deconvolution results of this major indication region showed that the composition and conformation of nucleic acid, protein, and fatty acid of E. coli were altered under the magnetic conditions.