Inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by electroporation.

Introduction: In modern times, bacterial infections have become a growing problem in the medical community due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In fact, the overuse and improper disposal of antibiotics have led to bacterial resistance and the presence of such bacteria in wastewater. Therefore, it is critical to develop effective strategies for dealing with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater.

The impact of impaired DNA mobility on gene electrotransfer efficiency: analysis in 3D model.

Background: Gene electrotransfer is an established method that enables transfer of DNA into cells with electric pulses. Several studies analyzed and optimized different parameters of gene electrotransfer, however, one of main obstacles toward efficient electrotransfection in vivo is relatively poor DNA mobility in tissues. Our aim was to analyze the effect of impaired mobility on gene electrotransfer efficiency experimentally and theoretically.

Effect of electroporation in a continuous flow system on bioaccumulation of magnesium, zinc and calcium ions in Lactobacillus rhamnosus B 442 cells.

Biomass of Lactobacillus rhamnosus B 442 was subjected to the continuous electroporation using an electroporator with a flow chamber (length of 10 cm, distance between electrodes 0.25 cm, stream width 0.25 cm, flow speed 10 mL/min) to improve accumulation of calcium, magnesium and zinc in the cells.

Contactless electroporation induced by high intensity pulsed electromagnetic fields via distributed nanoelectrodes.

Pulsed electric fields (PEFs) can be used to transiently increase cell membrane permeability in procedures ranging from gene therapy to tumor eradication. Although very efficient, PEF-based therapies generally require the use of invasive electrodes, which cause pain and tissue damage. An emerging noninvasive, contactless alternative to PEFs are High Intensity Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (HI-PEMF), whereby the electric field inside the tissue is induced remotely by external pulsed magnetic field.

Introduction of Phage Genome into Escherichia coli by Electroporation.

Electroporation has been an established tool for DNA delivery into prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, thus facilitating basic research studies and improving medical treatments. Here we describe its use for introduction of phage genomic DNA into Escherichia coli cells, including preparation of electrocompetent cells, electric pulse optimization and recovery of electrotransformed cells. The technique can also be adapted for other bacterial species.

The effect of temperature and bacterial growth phase on protein extraction by means of electroporation.

Different chemical and physical methods are used for extraction of proteins from bacteria, which are used in variety of fields. But on a large scale, many methods have severe drawbacks. Recently, extraction by means of electroporation showed a great potential to quickly obtain proteins from bacteria.

Gene Electrotransfer: A Mechanistic Perspective.

Gene electrotransfer is a powerful method of DNA delivery offering several medical applications, among the most promising of which are DNA vaccination and gene therapy for cancer treatment. Electroporation entails the application of electric fields to cells which then experience a local and transient change of membrane permeability. Although gene electrotransfer has been extensively studied in in vitro and in vivo environments, the mechanisms by which DNA enters and navigates through cells are not fully understood.

Protein Extraction by Means of Electroporation from E. coli with Preserved Viability.

Extracting proteins by means of electroporation from different microorganisms is gaining on its importance, as electroporation is a quick, chemical-free, and cost-effective method. Since complete cell destruction (to obtain proteins) necessitates additional work, and cost of purifying the end-product is high, pulses have to be adjusted in order to prevent total disintegration. Namely, total disintegration of the cell releases bacterial membrane contaminants in the final sample.

Electroporation-based applications in biotechnology.

Electroporation is already an established technique in several areas of medicine, but many of its biotechnological applications have only started to emerge; we review here some of the most promising. We outline electroporation as a phenomenon and then proceed to applications, first outlining the best established - the use of reversible electroporation for heritable genetic modification of microorganisms (electrotransformation), and then explore recent advances in applying electroporation for inactivation of microorganisms, extraction of biomolecules, and fast drying of biomass. Although these applications often aim to upscale to the industrial and/or clinical level, we also outline some important chip-scale applications of electroporation.