Production of sound waves by bacterial cells and the response of bacterial cells to sound

Michio Matsuhashi; Alla N. Pankrushina; Satoshi Takeuchi; Hideyuki Ohshima; Housaku Miyoi; Katsura Endoh; Ken Murayama; Hiroshi Watanabe; Shigeo Endo; Mikio Tobi; Yoshihiro Mano; Masao Hyodo; Torakichi Kobayashi; Tomohiko Kaneko; Sugio Otani; Susumu Yoshimura; Akira Harata; Tsuguo Sawada

doi:10.2323/jgam.44.49

Michio Matsuhashi, Alla N. Pankrushina, Satoshi Takeuchi, Hideyuki Ohshima, Housaku Miyoi, Katsura Endoh, Ken Murayama, Hiroshi Watanabe, Shigeo Endo, Mikio Tobi, Yoshihiro Mano, Masao Hyodo, Torakichi Kobayashi, Tomohiko Kaneko, Sugio Otani, Susumu Yoshimura, Akira Harata, Tsuguo Sawada

Author information

Michio Matsuhashi
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Alla N. Pankrushina
Yoshimura π-Electron Project, ERATO, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, c/o Matsushita Research Institute Tokyo, Inc.
Satoshi Takeuchi
Yoshimura π-Electron Project, ERATO, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, c/o Matsushita Research Institute Tokyo, Inc.
Hideyuki Ohshima
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Housaku Miyoi
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Katsura Endoh
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Ken Murayama
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Hiroshi Watanabe
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Shigeo Endo
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Mikio Tobi
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Yoshihiro Mano
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Masao Hyodo
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokai University
Torakichi Kobayashi
Department of Information and Communication Technology, Tokai University
Tomohiko Kaneko
Yoshimura π-Electron Project, ERATO, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, c/o Matsushita Research Institute Tokyo, Inc.
Sugio Otani
Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokai University
Susumu Yoshimura
Yoshimura π-Electron Project, ERATO, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, c/o Matsushita Research Institute Tokyo, Inc.
Akira Harata
Department of Industrial Chemistry, The University of Tokyo
Tsuguo Sawada
Department of Industrial Chemistry, The University of Tokyo

Keywords: Bacillus carboniphilus, Bacillus subtilis, bacteria, growth regulation, signal response, sonic signal, sound, ultrasonic

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1998 Volume 44 Issue 1 Pages 49-55

DOI https://doi.org/10.2323/jgam.44.49

Details

Abstract

Bacterial cells enhance the proliferation of neighboring cells under stress conditions by emitting a physical signal. Continuous single sine sound waves produced by a speaker at frequencies of 6–10, 18–22, and 28–38 kHz promoted colony formation by Bacillus carboniphilus under non-permissive stress conditions of high KCl concentration and high temperature. Furthermore, sound waves emitted from cells of Bacillus subtilis at frequencies between 8 and 43 kHz with broad peaks at approximately 8.5, 19, 29, and 37 kHz were detected using a sensitive microphone system. The similarity between the frequency of the sound produced by B. subtilis and the frequencies that induced a response in B. carboniphilus and the previously observed growth-promoting effect of B. subtilis cells upon B. carboniphilus through iron barriers, suggest that the detected sound waves function as a growth-regulatory signal between cells.

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