Impact of Microwave Plasma Torch on the YeastCandida glabrata

Featured Application A cold gaseous plasma torch generated in argon at low powers and atmospheric pressure is applicable in medicinal treatment where it could significantly decrease microbial skin or tissue contamination in a short time and with low operating costs. Recently, various cold plasma sources have been tested for their bactericidal and fungicidal effects with respect to their application in medicine and agriculture. The purpose of this work is to study the effects of a 2.45 GHz microwave generated plasma torch on a model yeast exampleCandida glabrata. The microwave plasma was generated by a surfatron resonator, and pure argon at a constant flow rate of 5 Slm was used as a working gas. Thanks to a high number of active particles generated in low-temperature plasma, this type of plasma has become highly popular, especially thanks to its bactericidal effects. However, its antimycotic effects and mechanisms of fungal inactivation are still not fully understood. Therefore, this study focuses on the antifungal effects of the microwave discharge onCandida glabrata. The main focus is on the measurement and evaluation of changes in inactivation effects caused by varying initial concentration ofCandida glabratacells, applied microwave power and exposure time. The discharge was applied on freshly inoculated colonies ofCandida glabrataspread on the agar plates and its inhibitory effects were observed in the form of inhibition zones formed after the subsequent cultivation.