Change of Electrophysical Properties of Escherichia coli Cells Due to Levomycetin and Tetracycline Action

Abstract

The effect of chloramphenicol and tetracycline, as inhibitors of protein synthesis, on electrophysical properties of Escherichia coli K-12 cells was investigated. Significant changes in the orientation spectra (OS) of the cell suspensions incubated with various concentrations of chloramphenicol were observed only at the first five frequencies of the electric field (10-1000 kHz). When the cells were exposed to chloramphenicol (1.5 mcg/ml) or tetracycline (1.7 mcg/ml), no changes in the OS were recorded. Significant changes in the electrooptic signal were observed, when the K-12 cells were simultaneously incubated with chloramphenicol (1.5 mcg/ml) and tetracycline (1.7 mcg/ml), that could be due to the synergistic action of the antibiotics. Therefore, the electrooptic analysis provided registration of higher antibacterial effect with the simultaneous use of chloramphenicol and tetracycline. Additional control experiments with the cell culture on the LB nutrient medium containing chloramphenicol and tetracycline were performed. The results suggested that the use of electrophysical methods for investigation of antibiotics effect on microorganisms was rather efficient.