It has been established using the model bacterial luminescence of the genetically modified bacteria Escherichia coli K12 TG1 that the damaging effect of silver nanoparticles (52 nm in size) developed more slowly and emerged at higher concentrations (approximately by 2 orders of magnitude) when compared with silver ions. A decline of bioluminescence and oxygen consumption is observed upon exposure to both nanoparticles and silver ions. Following the inhibition of biochemical processes, the silver bactericidal action (based on the ability to decrease the number of CFU) and morphological changes in the cells (according to the AFM data) are revealed. Similarly to the results of our previous studies on establishing the bactericidal effect of single-walled carbon nanotubes, the presented data allows us to suggest the use of bacterial luminescence changes for the primary assessment of the toxicity of silver nanoparticles.

Electromagnetic radiation of low intensity (n = 42,25 GHz) changes integrated toxicity of the sewage water of different degree of treating. It is shown that the less degree of water treating the more toxic effect of ER. It was revealed by express method on basis of a bacterial luminescence of the test system “Ecolum-08” that allows to offer this test system for a primary estimate of the ER action.

Irradiation of wastewater by low intensity electromagnetic radiation (ν = 42.25 GHz) affects the integral toxicity of water of a different purification degree, which was revealed by an express method on the basis of the Ecolum-08 bacterial luminescent test system. We have shown that the lower the degree of water purification, the higher the toxicity effect of EMR. This allows us to propose the Ecolum bacterial luminescent test system for the primary testing of the effect of EMR.

A novel strain of Photorhabdus luminescens ZMI isolated from nematode larvae Heterorhabditis sp. was shown to produce antibiotic complexes with antibacterial and antifungal activities. The antibiotic complexes secreted extracellularly and intracellularly were separated into individual components. Comparison of their properties with the databases for biologically active compounds suggested that component A was identical to 3,5-dihydroxy-4-isopropylstilbene, components B and H belonged to anthraquinone derivatives, component C secreted only extracellularly was likely a novel antibiotic.