Disinfection effect and mechanism of neutral electrolyzed water on Staphylococcus albus

Abstract

To evaluate the disinfection efficacy and mechanism of neutral electrolyzed water(NEW) on Staphylococcus albus. The bactericidal effect of NEW was observed through suspension quantitative bactericidal test. In addition, to analyze the mechanism of NEW, the leakage of bacterial contents and enzyme activity were tested, and the damage of bacterial protein and DNA were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis. After treated with NEW for 1 min, staphylococcus albus in suspension(2.07×10~7 CFU/mL)were reduced to below the detection limit(<10 CFU/mL), with killing rate >99.999% and killing log value >5. NEW could destroy the integrity of the cell membrane, resulting in the leakage of Ca~(2+), K~+, protein and nucleic acid, and change the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD), peroxidase(POD), catalase(CAT) and other enzymes, it could also damage protein and DNA. NEW can effectively kill Staphylococcus albus in suspension, and its mechanism involves the destruction of cell membrane, bacterial protein and nucleic acid, and the change of enzyme activity.