<i>Escherichia coli</i>'s response to low-dose ionizing radiation stress

Jaouhra Cherif; Anis Raddaoui; Ghofrane Ben Fraj; Asma Laabidi; Nada Souissi; Jaouhra Cherif; Anis Raddaoui; Ghofrane Ben Fraj; Asma Laabidi; Nada Souissi

doi:10.3934/biophy.2024009

AIMS Biophysics

2024, Volume 11, Issue 2: 130-141. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2024009

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Research article

Escherichia coli's response to low-dose ionizing radiation stress

1.
Laboratory of Biophysics and Medical Technologies, LR13ES07, Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
2.
Laboratory Ward, National Bone Marrow Transplant Center, LR18ES39, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
3.
Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
4.
Bacteriology Laboratory, Tunisian Institute of Veterinary Research, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

Received: 09 February 2024 Revised: 15 March 2024 Accepted: 26 March 2024 Published: 01 April 2024

Low-dose ionizing radiation can trigger a phenomenon known as hormesis in microorganisms, in which exposure to mild stressors like radiation results in beneficial adaptive responses. This study investigated the impact of low-dose X-rays on Escherichia coli's viability and their potential influence on antibiotic susceptibility. The irradiated samples displayed increased bacterial viability compared to non-irradiated controls, with a significant increase observed at 5 and 10 mGy of X-ray radiation exposure. This suggests a stimulating effect of low-dose ionizing radiation on E. coli's viability. To explore the correlation between viability and antibiotic susceptibility, we assessed the inhibition zone diameters for various antibiotics in non-irradiated and irradiated samples. The obtained results showed that the exposure of bacteria to low-dose ionizing radiation resulted in a significant reduction in the inhibition zone diameters for marbofloxacin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftiofur, and cefoxitin. These findings suggest that low-dose X-ray radiation exposure can enhance E. coli's viability and its ability to withstand antibiotics, raising potential concerns.
- antibiotic susceptibility,
- Escherichia coli,
- low-dose ionizing radiation,
- radiation hormesis,
- stress response
Citation: Jaouhra Cherif, Anis Raddaoui, Ghofrane Ben Fraj, Asma Laabidi, Nada Souissi. Escherichia coli's response to low-dose ionizing radiation stress[J]. AIMS Biophysics, 2024, 11(2): 130-141. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2024009

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Abstract

Low-dose ionizing radiation can trigger a phenomenon known as hormesis in microorganisms, in which exposure to mild stressors like radiation results in beneficial adaptive responses. This study investigated the impact of low-dose X-rays on Escherichia coli's viability and their potential influence on antibiotic susceptibility. The irradiated samples displayed increased bacterial viability compared to non-irradiated controls, with a significant increase observed at 5 and 10 mGy of X-ray radiation exposure. This suggests a stimulating effect of low-dose ionizing radiation on E. coli's viability. To explore the correlation between viability and antibiotic susceptibility, we assessed the inhibition zone diameters for various antibiotics in non-irradiated and irradiated samples. The obtained results showed that the exposure of bacteria to low-dose ionizing radiation resulted in a significant reduction in the inhibition zone diameters for marbofloxacin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftiofur, and cefoxitin. These findings suggest that low-dose X-ray radiation exposure can enhance E. coli's viability and its ability to withstand antibiotics, raising potential concerns.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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