The metal — metal interactions in biological systems. Part I. Escherichlia coli

The effect of nine metal ions: Co(II), Cr(III), Mg, Ni(II), Pb(II), Se(IV), Ti(III), V(IV) and Zn and following pairs of them: Cr-Mg, Cr-Se, Cr-Co, Cr-Zn, Cr-Ni, Ni-Mg, Ni-Se, Ni-Co, Ni-Zn, Pb-Mg, Pb-Se, Pb-Co, Pb-Zn, Ti-Mg, Ti-Se, Ti-Co, Ti-Zn, V-Mg, V-Se, V-Co and V-Zn was tested on the growth of Escherichia coli. Each test lasted 4 days. Magnesium is the most potent protective agent in all pairs of metals. The observed effects are not dependent only on concentration but also on time.