Polyoxometalate K[PMoO] Inactivates O157:H7 by Inducing recA Expression and Apoptosis-like Bacterial Death.

Polyoxometalates have emerged as promising bactericidal agents. In the current study, the bactericidal activity of polyoxometalate K[PMoO] against () O157:H7 and its possible underlying mechanisms were explored. The obtained results demonstrated that K[PMoO] could effectively kill O157:H7 at millimolar levels. Moreover, K[PMoO] treatment also induced significant increases in recA protein expression and further triggered characteristic apoptosis-like bacterial death events such as DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine exposure. In conclusion, polyoxometalate K[PMoO] possesses a desirable antibacterial activity, and induction of bacterial apoptosis-like death might be involved in its underlying bactericidal mechanisms.