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Inactivation and injury of Escherichia coli in a copper water storage vessel: effects of temperature and pH

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Abstract

Copper has been used as a disinfectant since ancient times and recent research has demonstrated that antimicrobial copper surfaces may have practical applications in healthcare and related areas. The present study was carried out to establish the effects of temperature and pH on inactivation and sub-lethal injury of Escherichia coli in water stored in a copper vessel, to determine the operational limits of the process in terms of these variables. To investigate the effects of temperature, a bacterial suspension at pH 7.0 was stored for up to 48 h in copper vessels at 5, 15, 25 and 35°C. For pH, a bacterial suspension was stored at 30°C for up to 48 h in copper vessels at pH 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0. Both temperature and pH had substantial effects on inactivation and injury, with the fastest inactivation observed at elevated temperature and at pH values furthest from neutrality, while the greatest amount of sub-lethal injury, manifest as sensitivity to conventional aerobic enumeration, was observed at a temperature of 35°C. These findings have important implications for the practical application of copper-based water disinfection methods, in terms of their likely efficacy under environmental conditions.

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Abbreviations

WHO:

World Health Organisation

US:

United States

FNB:

Food and nutrition board

CPCBI:

Central pollution control board of India

EPA:

Environmental protection agency

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

HEPES:

4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine ethanesulfonic acid

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Copper Development Association, USA and Harold Michels for providing financial support for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    Riti Sharan & Sanjay Chhibber

  2. Advanced Paediatric Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

    Savita Attri

  3. Centre for Plant & Water Science, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Health, CQ University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia

    Riti Sharan & Robert H. Reed

Authors
  1. Riti Sharan
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  2. Sanjay Chhibber
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  3. Savita Attri
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  4. Robert H. Reed
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Correspondence to Robert H. Reed.

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Sharan, R., Chhibber, S., Attri, S. et al. Inactivation and injury of Escherichia coli in a copper water storage vessel: effects of temperature and pH. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 97, 91–97 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-009-9395-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-009-9395-7

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