Cooperation between microbes of different species may help them resist the effects of man-made magnetic fields

October 27, 2026 (EMFS)

Oct 26, 2026 (original)

Source: Brazilian Journal of Microbiology

Source category: Research

Candida albicans and the tooth-decay bacterium Streptococcus mutans form biofilms in the mouth that the authors say drive persistent infections, partly because the two species cooperate. Researchers at Universitas Indraprasta PGRI in Jakarta exposed them, grown separately and together, to a weak alternating magnetic field of about 105 milligauss at 50 to 60 Hz from a custom-built solenoid, with no contact. Alone, each lost significant biomass and metabolic activity, and the yeast stopped forming its invasive filaments. Grown together those two measures barely moved, which the authors read as the species propping each other up, but the physical association normally characteristic of the mixed biofilm was gone under exposure.

Exposure note: The authors give the field as about 105 milligauss, which is roughly 10.5 microtesla. That is far above the background level in an ordinary home, but about twenty times below the 200 microtesla reference level that ICNIRP, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, sets for public exposure at 50 Hz.

Quotes

"Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have emerged as a promising non-chemical strategy to modulate microbial behavior; however, their effects on cross-kingdom biofilms remain poorly characterized."

— Noer et al.

"EMF exposure significantly reduced biomass and metabolic activity in single-species biofilms of both microorganisms (p < 0.05), whereas dual-species biofilms showed a non-significant reduction, indicating enhanced resilience through interspecies cooperation."

— Noer et al.

"Moreover, the characteristic physical association between species in dual biofilms was absent under EMF treatment."

— Noer et al.

Exposure

"A custom-built solenoid-based EMF system was calibrated to deliver a low-intensity alternating magnetic field (~ 105 mG; 50-60 Hz), ensuring non-contact exposure conditions."

— Noer et al.

Location

📍 Indonesia

Source

Evaluation of electromagnetic field effects on the viability and structure of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans biofilms. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

📄 Underlying Research

Evaluation of electromagnetic field effects on the viability and structure of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans biofilms.

Noer S, Jahrudin A, A'ini ZF (2026) Brazilian Journal of Microbiology Journal Level 1ⓘ

🔗 DOI 📚 PubMed 📰 Full Article

Cooperation between microbes of different species may help them resist the effects of man-made magnetic fields

Source

📄 Underlying Research

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