Interaction of bacterial cells with weak light emission from culture media

• Published in: Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics Vol. 45; no. 1; pp. 93 - 101
• Main Authors: Vogel, Reiner, Süssmuth, Roland
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier S.A 01.03.1998
• Subjects: Bacterial growth; Cell membrane; Chemiluminescence; Oxidative stress; Ultraweak photon emission; Bacterial growth; Oxidative stress; Chemiluminescence; Ultraweak photon emission; Cell membrane
• ISSN: 0302-4598
• DOI: 10.1016/S0302-4598(98)00067-1

Chemiluminescence can be observed from almost all objects being subject to oxidation reactions. Liquid culture media as they are being used in microbiology may show an emission intensity of up to 10 5 photons/min cm 3 under aerobic conditions, depending on preparation and composition. We report on a very efficient interaction between bacterial cells of a wide variety of strains and the mechanisms involved in the generation of this ultraweak photon emission, leading to an almost complete elimination of the light emission. This new phenomenon seems to be a common behavior, that can be observed with eukaryotic cells and strains of the Archaea, too, and may be correlated to the varying oxygen tolerance of the strains employed. It is shown that the cell membrane is probably involved in the elimination of the light emission, hinting to the existence of active centers in the membrane.