Abstract
Background: Scientific evidence is scarce for the antimicrobial effect of copper on bacteria characterized as more resistant. Using Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), a highly resistant microorganism, as a pathogen model, copper ion treatment has shown a significant bactericidal effect; however, the sustainability of MAP against copper toxicity was also reported in several studies. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate the impacts of copper on MAP. Methodology: This study considered physicochemical properties and copper concentration in a buffer since it could modulate MAP response during the application of copper treatment. Results: Despite the efficacy of copper ions in significantly reducing the MAP load in Phosphate Buffered Saline, some MAP cells were able to survive. The copper concentration generated by the copper ion treatment device increased significantly with increasing exposure times. MAP bacterial load decreased significantly when treated with copper ions as the exposure times increased. An increase in pH decreased oxygen consumption, and an increase in conductivity was reported after treatment application. Conclusions: Even with higher concentrations of copper, the efficacy of MAP control was not complete. The concentration of copper must be a key element in achieving control of highly resistant microorganisms.
Highlights
Introduction iationsCopper is a chemical element that, at low concentration, plays an essential role in animal and plant cell metabolism [1]
In a more novel way, we have reported that copper ions, in a liquid matrix [14,15], are highly effective against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), one of the most fastidious members of the Mycobacterium genus that is highly resistant to both physical and chemical agents [16,17,18,19] and the causative agent of paratuberculosis in ruminants [20]
The copper concentration in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer increased at a greater rate through time than was the case with no treatment (p < 0.001)
Summary
Copper is a chemical element that, at low concentration, plays an essential role in animal and plant cell metabolism [1]. Over 30 types of copper-containing proteins essential for life (e.g., ceruloplasmin, superoxide dismutase, cytochrome oxidase), are known [1]. The importance of copper has been understood since its antibacterial properties were discovered in the 5th and 6th millennium BC [2,3]. The scientific findings that confirm the effectiveness of copper on the integrity of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, viruses, and fungi are very well documented [4,5,6,7,8]. The antibacterial effect of copper surfaces on bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Clostridium difficile [5,9]
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