Electropermeabilization responses in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Effects of 3-kJ kg−1 nanosecond pulsed electric fields (PEFs) on cellular permeabilization of Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus were observed. It was seen that bacterial responses depend on both the electrical pulse attribute and the cell plasma membrane structure. For traditional permeabilization, the responses involved the thickness of the peptidoglycan layer where a maximum of 2.5 log reduction in S. enterica population was achieved. Meanwhile, in the area of selective permeabilization, it showed insignificant reduction in both pathogens. Such inactivation mechanisms were described through the behavior of potential across plasma membrane and intracellular organelles by PSPICE simulations incorporating PEF-cell interaction model.