ABSTRACT
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is an analysis method which over the spectral absorption, gives information about the molecular structures of systems. Recently, this method is widely used to the investigation of complex systems like cells and bacteria. Characteristic of FT-IR spectrum of bacteria depend closely to physiological and culture parameters. In this study, the infrared bands of intact bacteria are first tentatively attributed to the contribution of the cellular components. Secondly are compared the FT-IR spectra of Escherichia coli bacteria before and after treatment at sub-inhibitrice concentrations (< or = MIC) at penicillin A, penicillin G and nalidixic acid. The observed spectral perturbations are closely depending on the antibiotic treatment and are observed even if bacterial cell mass is far away from cell death. On the other hand, this spectral changes are related to the known mode of action of the used antibiotic.
Subject(s)
Ampicillin/pharmacology , Escherichia coli/chemistry , Nalidixic Acid/pharmacology , Penicillin G/pharmacology , Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared/methods , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Bacterial Proteins/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , Escherichia coli/drug effects , In Vitro Techniques , Penicillins/pharmacology , RNA, Bacterial/chemistryABSTRACT
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to explore structural changes in bacteria under different incubation conditions. In particular, differences between Bradyrhizobium japonicum (BRJ) grown in liquid and on solid media were investigated, as well as the rearrangement of BRJ after transfer from one medium to the other. The FT-IR absorption bands located between 1200 and 900 cm-1 region, vary in spectral shape and intensity when BRJ were suspended in solution medium or plated on solid medium. In agreement with the electronic micrograph data, these spectroscopic changes are due to the changes involving the bacterial wall (peptidoglycan) when BRJ are plated in agar medium. By means of this FT-IR ultrastructural study of Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteria, it has been possible to follow and to evaluate the rate of the molecular change in bacteria without any destructive interference. This indicates that FT-IR spectroscopy can prove to be a valuable technique in the monitoring of metabolic events in bacterial cells relevant to agriculture as well as environmental and health sciences.
