NDLI: Generator and Setup for Emulating Exposures of Biological Samples to Lightning Strokes

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Rebersek, M. Marjanovic, I. Begus, S. Pillet, F. Rols, M.-P. Miklavcic, D. Kotnik, T.
Copyright Year	1964
Abstract	Goal: We aimed to develop a system for controlled exposure of biological samples to conditions they experience when lightning strikes their habitats. Methods: We based the generator on a capacitor charged via a bridge rectifier and a dc-dc converter, and discharged via a relay, delivering arcs similar to natural lightning strokes in electric current waveform and similarly accompanied by acoustic shock waves. We coupled the generator to our exposure chamber described previously, measured electrical and acoustic properties of arc discharges delivered, and assessed their ability to inactivate bacterial spores. Results: Submicrosecond discharges descended vertically from the conical emitting electrode across the air gap, entering the sample centrally and dissipating radially toward the ring-shaped receiving electrode. In contrast, longer discharges tended to short-circuit the electrodes. Recording at 341 000 FPS with Vision Research Phantom v2010 camera revealed that initial arc descent was still vertical, but became accompanied by arcs leaning increasingly sideways; after 8-12 μs, as the first of these arcs formed direct contact with the receiving electrode, it evolved into a channel of plasmified air and short-circuited the electrodes. We eliminated this artefact by incorporating an insulating cylinder concentrically between the electrodes, precluding short-circuiting between them. While bacterial spores are highly resistant to electric pulses delivered through direct contact, we showed that with arc discharges accompanied by an acoustic shock wave, spore inactivation is readily obtained. Conclusion: The presented system allows scientific investigation of effects of arc discharges on biological samples. Significance: This system will allow realistic experimental studies of lightning-triggered horizontal gene transfer and assessment of its role in evolution.
Sponsorship	IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
Starting Page	2535
Ending Page	2543
Page Count	9
File Size	902623
File Format	PDF
ISSN	00189294
Volume Number	62
Issue Number	10
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	2015-01-01
Publisher Place	U.S.A.
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	Electrodes Discharges (electric) Lightning Generators Current Organisms Capacitors evolution Electroporation lightning exposure system electrotransformation horizontal gene transfer horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Biomedical Engineering

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4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
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