Abstract

Overview

In recent years, attention has been drawn to the non-thermal effects of THz radiation on various organisms. Not all of these effects are well-understood, especially at the molecular level.

Findings

• The study focused on the exposure of Escherichia coli to 3.1 THz radiation.
• Using red fluorescent protein (RFP) as a reporter, observations after 8 hours of exposure revealed:
• Increased plasmid copy number by 3.8 times.
• Enhanced protein expression at a rate 2.7 times higher than the control.
• Fluorescence intensity in the irradiated bacteria was 3.3 times greater.

Conclusion

These results suggest significant alterations in plasmid replication and protein expression levels in bacteria exposed to 3.1 THz radiation, potentially linked to health risks in other systems influenced by similar conditions.