Cooperative Response of Escherichia Coli Cells to the Resonance Effect of Millimeter Waves at Super Low Intensity

Abstract

Cells of Escherichia coli K12 AB1157 were irradiated with millimeter waves (MMW) within the power density (PD) range of 10−20 to 10 4 W/cm2. MMW were applied for 0.5–70 min at 51.76 GHz or 41.32 GHz at which, as had been shown earlier, MMW resonantly changes the genome conformational state (GCS) of E. coli K12 AB1157 cells. The changes in the GCS were tested with the method of anomalous viscosity time dependence (AVTD). It was demonstrated that the resonance effect of MMW manifests itself at PD up to 10−19 W/cm2. Dependences of MMW effect on power density and time of exposure proved to have distinct characteristics when cells are irradiated during the logarithmic or stationary phases of the culture's growth. It was found that the resonance effect of MMW on the GCS of E. coli cells at the early stationary phase changes the developmental dynamics of the irradiated culture. It was established for the first time that the magnitude of the resonance MMW effect depends on the concentration of irradiated cells. An analysis of the results indicates an electromagnetic rather than diffusion nature of the cells' cooperative responses to millimeter waves.