The Fun Guy's Journal: 192.5 Writing

Reviewer #1: The author didn't even provide any sense of how this might be taking place. Mechanism?

My response:

A possible mechanism for the reduction in sensitivity to irradiation may be related to the shift in bacterial physiology associated with the biofilm phenotype (Costerton, 2004). It has long been known that actively dividing cells in log phase are more sensitive to DNA damage during irradiation, while quiescent cells, as in lag phase, are less susceptible (WHO, 1994). In this context, cells within a maturing biofilm may progressively exhibit phenotypic traits which would impact the antimicrobial efficacy of irradiation, such as increased efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms. Alternatively, the dense EPS-like material surrounding the bacterial cells may act as a quenching agent, neutralizing the hydroxyl radicals produced during irradiation before they can damage the bacterial cell membranes. Increasing density of the EPS-like material may provide increasing levels of protection to cells suspended therein. However, while these putative mechanisms provide a basis for future research, it must be acknowledged that the data from the present study does not provide the biochemical analysis necessary to validate them.

Take that, sonny boy.

Nice!

[Shadow Wrought]

Of course my quick dyslexic reading also lead me to think for a moment taht cells had ESP. Which, frankly, would be even cooler;-) Irradiate those damn midichlorian buggers!