1303 ISSN 1746-0913 Future Microbiol. (2014) 9(12), 1303–1317 part of 10.2217/FMB.14.96 © 2014 Future Medicine Ltd PRELIMINARY COMMUNICATION Exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic ield afects bioilm formation by cystic ibrosis pathogens Giovanni Di Bonaventura* ,1,2 , Arianna Pompilio 1,2 , Valentina Crocetta 1,2 , Serena De Nicola 1,2 , Filippo Barbaro 3,4 , Livio Giuliani 5 , Enrico D’Emilia 5 , Ersilia Fiscarelli 6 , Rosa Grazia Bellomo 7 & Raoul Saggini 4 1 Department of Experimental & Clinical Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy 2 Center of Excellence on Ageing, G. d’Annunzio University Foundation, Chieti, Italy 3 Prometeo S.r.l., Padova, Italy 4 Department of Neuroscience & Imaging, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy 5 INAIL, Workers Compensation Authority, Research Center of Monteporzio Catone, Rome, Italy 6 Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital & Research Institute, Rome, Italy 7 Department of Medicine & Ageing Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +39 0871 3554812; Fax: +39 0871 3554822; gdibonaventura@unich.it SUMMARY Aims: To evaluate the in vitro efects of extremely low-frequency magnetic ield (ELF-MF) on growth and bioilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains from cystic ibrosis patients. Materials & methods: The motion of selected ions (Fe, Ca, Cu, Zn, Mg, K, Na) was stimulated by the ion resonance efect, then inluence on growth and bioilm formation/viability was assessed by spectrophotometry or viability count. Results: Generally, exposure to ELF-MF signiicantly increased bacterial growth and afected both bioilm formation and viability, although with diferences with regard to ions and species considered. Conclusion: Exposure to ELF-MF represents a possible new approach for treatment of bioilm-associated cystic ibrosis lung infections. KEYWORDS • bioilm formation • Burkholderia cepacia • cystic ibrosis • extremely low-frequency magnetic ield • lung infection • Pseudomonas aeruginosa • Staphylococcus aureus • Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common bacterial pathogens isolated from the airways of cystic ibrosis (CF) patients where they cause chronic infections responsible for high morbidity and mortality [1,2] . However, the extensive use of antipseudomonal antibiotic therapy exerted a relevant selective pressure on pulmonary bacterial populations recently leading to an increasing number of reports involving potentially emerging and challenging pathogens [3] . This is the case of multidrug-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia whose isolation from CF airways is recently reported with increasing prevalence and incidence [3,4] . Physicians treating CF patients are increasingly faced with infections caused by multidrug- resistant strains. Efforts are also hampered by the high microbial adaptation to the CF pulmonary environment, resulting in an increased ability to form bioilms, sessile communities embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), intrinsically resistant to antibiotics as well as toward the host immune defense [5] . Novel strategies that could replace or complement current therapies are, therefore, needed to counteract chronic infections in CF patients. Magnetic ields are widely used in medicine, in diagnostic (i.e., MRI) as well as in therapeutic (i.e., magnetic stimulation of brain areas, magnetic drug targeting, treatment of pressure ulcers For reprint orders, please contact: reprints@futuremedicine.com