Polyoxometalate K 6 [P 2 Mo 18 O 62 ] Inactivates Escherichia coli O157:H7 by Inducing recA Expression and Apoptosis-like Bacterial Death.

Polyoxometalates have emerged as promising bactericidal agents. In the current study, the bactericidal activity of polyoxometalate K 6 [P 2 Mo 18 O 62 ] against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) O157:H7 and its possible underlying mechanisms were explored. The obtained results demonstrated that K 6 [P 2 Mo 18 O 62 ] could effectively kill E. coli O157:H7 at millimolar levels. Moreover, K 6 [P 2 Mo 18 O 62 ] treatment also induced significant increases in recA protein expression and further triggered characteristic apoptosis-like bacterial death events such as DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine exposure. In conclusion, polyoxometalate K 6 [P 2 Mo 18 O 62 ] possesses a desirable antibacterial activity, and induction of bacterial apoptosis-like death might be involved in its underlying bactericidal mechanisms.