Mycobacterium flavescens) microorganisms. They differ primarily in their cell wall structure. The main
component of the cell wall is a netted structure, peptidoglycane (murein). The latter forms so-called
“murein sacculus”, a rigid structure of the cell wall, making the cells stronger (see, e.g., [18]). Besides,
gram-positive bacteria have a thicker cell wall than that of gram-negative microorganisms.
Both vegetative cells and spores of B. subtilis were used. A spore-forming vegetative cell produces
a highly tolerant spore protected with a multilayer comprising the cortex and protein envelopes.
The resulted spore acquires thereby higher resistance to the bactericidal action of various chemical and
physical factors.
Fungi tested were Candida lypolitica and Aspergillus niger. They belong to higher (imperfect)
fungi attributed to the eukaryotes. The latter differ markedly in their structures from prokaryotes. The
composition and structure of the fungal cell walls differ significantly from those of bacteria. Natural
multiple-species biofilms enhancing the steel corrosion were also used in our experiments.
Thus, the set of microorganisms selected here gives us a unique opportunity to check the efficiency
of low-temperature plasma in the inactivation of microorganisms essentially different from each
other in their properties.
Specific