Antibacterial activity and a membrane damage mechanism of plasma-activated water against Pseudomonas deceptionensis CM2

• Published in: Food science & technology Vol. 96; pp. 395 - 401
• Main Authors: Xiang, Qisen, Kang, Chaodi, Niu, Liyuan, Zhao, Dianbo, Li, Ke, Bai, Yanhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2018
• Subjects: anions; antibacterial properties; cell membranes; chicken meat; food processing; hydrogen peroxide; Membrane damage; membrane permeability; nitrates; nitrites; Oxidation reduction potential; Plasma-activated water; propidium; Pseudomonas; Pseudomonas deceptionensis; Reactive species; redox potential; sanitizers; scanning electron microscopes; Plasma-activated water; Pseudomonas deceptionensis; Oxidation reduction potential; Membrane damage; Reactive species
• ISSN: 0023-6438
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2018.05.059

In this work, the antibacterial effects and underlying mechanisms of plasma-activated water (PAW) against Pseudomonas deceptionensis CM2 isolated from spoiling chicken meat were investigated. The population of P. deceptionensis CM2 was significantly reduced approximately 5 log units within 10 min of exposure to PAW. The results of the scanning electron microscope clearly showed distinguishable morphostructural changes in P. deceptionensis CM2 as a consequence of PAW treatment. The permeability change in the outer and cytoplasmic membranes was evaluated by using 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN) and propidium iodide (PI), respectively. The fluorescence intensities of NPN and PI in P. deceptionensis CM2 cells were significantly increased after PAW treatment (p < 0.05), indicating the disruption of the membrane permeability barrier. Following activation with plasma, PAW acquires an acidic pH and a higher oxidation reduction potential and contains aqueous reactive species, such as H2O2, nitrate, and nitrite anions, which play a crucial role in the inactivation process of P. deceptionensis CM2 cells. These findings indicate that PAW is a promising alternative to traditional sanitizers used in food and food-processing environments. •PAW effectively kills P. deceptionensis CM2 in a time dependent manner.•Discharge time affects the antibacterial activity of PAW.•Cell membrane is a target for bacteria inactivation by PAW.•The inactivation is due to the production of reactive species.