Phenotypic and Genetic Effects of Wi-Fi Waves on Some Bacterial Species Isolated from Otitis Media Infection

Reyam F. Saleh*, Rafea Z. Al-Sugmiany, Marwa M. Al-Doori, Adnan Al-Azzawie

Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Tikrit, Tikrit, Iraq

Corresponding Author: riyamf@tu.edu.iq; Tel: 07735900790

Recieved Date: September 13, 2020; Accepted Date: December 13, 2020; Published Date: 02 January 2021

Citation: Saleh RF, Al-Sugmiany RZ, Al-Doori MM, Al-Azzawie A. Phenotypic and Genetic Effects of Wi-Fi Waves on Some Bacterial Species Isolated from Otitis Media Infection. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2020; 4(12): 1056-1063.  https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v4i12.6

Copyright: © 2020 Saleh et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

ABSTRACT

An increasing use of telecommunication technologies such as bluetooth, and Wi-Fi has led to an increase in exposure of living organisms to electromagnetic radiations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Wi-Fi waves on some pathogenic bacteria including Kocuria kristinae, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis isolated from patients suffering from Otitis media infection. The organisms were identified using phenotypic and biochemical characteristics. Four cultures of each of the bacterial isolates were respectively exposed to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi waves at a distance of 0, 0.5, 5 or 10 m from the radiation source. Sensitivity of the bacterial isolates was tested against nalidixic acid, tetracycline and tobramycin before and after exposure. Also, DNA was extracted, purified and quantified from the test bacterial isolates before and after exposure. These extracts were used to perform a random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR), the products were separated on an agarose gel electrophoresis and data were analyzed. The results of the antibiotic sensitivity testing indicated a significant effect of the Wi-Fi waves on it. All the isolates were resistant to the antibiotics before exposure, but most of them became sensitive after exposure. RAPD-PCR markers showed that the Wi-Fi waves have serious effect on the bacterial genetic materials. Our finding revealed that Wi-Fi waves have significant effects on the phenotypic and genetic traits of test bacterial isolates. Therefore, it is recommended that cautions should be taken when handling electromagnetic-emitting devices as a result of the serious health risk associated with them.