Results of the current study are in accordance with the previous study and similar studies on the effects of radiofrequency on the antimicrobial susceptibility of the
K. pneumoniae after exposure to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radiofrequency radiation and supports the "window" theory concept (
17,
31-
36).
Based on this theory, when the irradiation level is within the window (between the lower and upper levels of the window), stimulatory effects of ionizing or non-ionizing radiation can be detected. Hence, the response of bacteria and other microorganisms to any environmental stressors can be determined by different field parameters such as the magnitude of the dose and dose rate. By comparison between this study and our previous study on
K. pneumoniae response to radiofrequency radiation, the same pattern was repeated and showed a rise in antibacterial sensitivity within the window. However, for Wi-Fi exposure, this significant change was observed at 4.5 hours and for the RF simulator at the 12
th hour. Many studies have demonstrated that the bacterial response to electromagnetic fields is dependent on several factors including: intensity, frequency, duration of exposure, and other physicochemical properties of the fields (
22,
37,
38). As mentioned, the frequency of Wi-Fi router was 2.4 GHz and RF simulator was 900 MHz, maximum bacterial response to this radiation occurred at different times, which was related to their frequencies. Consequently, for Wi-Fi with higher frequency, this response was observed at 4.5 hours and for RF simulator with lower frequency, the same response was observed at the 12
th hour.
We have also examined the effect of radiofrequency radiation on the growth rate of bacteria. As shown in
Figure 2, during the investigated time period,
K. pneumoniae showed a significant growth rate after exposure. However, several studies had indicated a fall in growth rate of bacteria depending on the field parameters for instance frequency, intensity, the magnitude of the field and exposure duration (
20,
23). In another study on
E. coli, growth rate decrease was more visible by 53 GHz radiation. Therefore, antibiotic susceptibility changes as a result of electromagnetic radiations (
20). In one study (
39) that demonstrated Low energy, low frequency radiation enhances the growth rate of microorganisms, although high-energy, high-frequency radiation kills the microorganisms.
The effects of electromagnetic fields on the biological systems are irrefutable. The modifications caused by irradiation have been usually considered as a harmful public concern. Hence, research on the probability of electromagnetic fields could be exploited for advantageous purposes.
Our findings of this study, on the antibacterial susceptibility of K. pneumoniae before and after exposure to 900 MHz RF radiation should be better considered in the treatment of the patients who suffer from the Klebsiella infections after additional investigations. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanism involved in this response is very important. Previous studies on the bacterial sensitivity affected by electromagnetic fields were carried out and different mechanisms described this phenomenon:
a) Surface charges and membrane potential. Changes in membrane potential and surface charge, make disruption in the electron transport system and energy generation by proton motive force of bacteria would be impaired (
40-
42) and can increase sensitivity to antibiotics (
43). Since membrane potential was crucial for bacterial binary fusion, it can be interpreted that exposure to EMFs influences the behavior of bacteria in the environment (
44).
b) Increased efficacy of the antibiotics can be described as a result of electromagnetic field interactions with water molecules in the aqueous environment (
45). It is obvious that the electromagnetic field changes physicochemical properties and hydration ability of water molecules and solubility of the antibiotics in the surrounding area was changed (
20,
23).
c) One of the factors that can influence antibacterial sensitivity is the cell wall structure of bacteria and peptidoglycan (PG) nature (
3,
46,
47). In gram-positive bacteria, cell wall thickness is greater than that of gram negatives.
d) It was demonstrated that electromagnetic field induces permeability of the bacteria and cells remained permeable after exposure to an electromagnetic field at least for 9 minutes especially with 18 GHz (
47).
e) Efflux pumps and ion channels located in the cell membrane play an important role in antibiotic uptake by the cell. Electromagnetic fields are capable of changing the channels and pumps and duration of opening time will increase (
17,
48,
49).
f) The last factor that can have an influence on the sensitivity of bacteria in the electromagnetic condition is the antibiotic structure. Charge, size, or hydrophilicity of the antibiotics can alter after being exposed to electromagnetic fields (
50).
4.1. Conclusions
The bacteria were capable of responding to environmental stresses by activating some specific systems such as ion channels, change via the membrane, and DNA repair system. Considering these results, we believed that mobile exposure can serve as physical methods to change the antibacterial susceptibility of the microorganisms. In this light, K. pneumoniae responds to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation exposure, variously and significant changes were observed at the 12th hour of exposure. Considering the importance of infections, especially caused by K. pneumoniae, experiments on different bacterial strains with various electromagnetic fields should be performed in the future to better clarify these uncertainties.
4.2. Suggestions
In order to extend the findings of this study to the other population, further studies on the molecular mechanisms of the bacterial responses and working on the several pathogenic, gram positive and negative bacteria, different exposure sources and time exposure will be suggested.