Bactericidal effect of silver nanoparticles against multidrug-resistant bacteria (original) (raw)
Abstract
Infections caused by drug-resistant microorganisms result in significant increases in mortality, morbidity, and cost related to prolonged treatments. The antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against some drug-resistant bacteria has been established, but further investigation is needed to determine whether these particles could be an option for the treatment and prevention of drug-resistant microbial infections. Hence, we challenged different drug-resistant pathogens of clinical importance (multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 and erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes) with a suspension of silver nanoparticles. By means of a luciferase-based assay, it was determined that silver nanoparticles (1) inactivate a panel of drug-resistant and drug-susceptible bacteria (Gram positive and Gram negative), (2) exert their antibacterial activity through a bactericidal rather than bacteriostatic mechanism, and (3) inhibit the bacterial growth rate from the time of first contact between the bacteria and the nanoparticles. Additionally, strains with a resistant phenotype to silver nanoparticle were developed and used to explore the bactericidal mode of action of silver nanoparticles. Through a Kirby–Bauer test, it was shown that silver nanoparticles’ general mechanism of bactericidal action is based on inhibition of cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis mediated by the 30s ribosomal subunit, and nucleic acid synthesis. Our data suggest that silver nanoparticles are effective broad-spectrum biocides against a variety of drug-resistant bacteria, which makes them a potential candidate for use in pharmaceutical products and medical devices that may help to prevent the transmission of drug-resistant pathogens in different clinical environments.
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Acknowledgments
The following funding sources supported the data collection process: the Programa de Apoyo a la Investigacion en Ciencia y Tecnologia (PAICyT) from the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
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Authors and Affiliations
- Laboratorio de Inmunologia y Virologia, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Edificio C, 3er piso, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Ave. Pedro de Alba S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, C.P. 66451, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
Humberto H. Lara, Nilda V. Ayala-Núñez, Liliana del Carmen Ixtepan Turrent & Cristina Rodríguez Padilla
Authors
- Humberto H. Lara
- Nilda V. Ayala-Núñez
- Liliana del Carmen Ixtepan Turrent
- Cristina Rodríguez Padilla
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Correspondence toHumberto H. Lara.
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Humberto H. Lara and Nilda V. Ayala-Núñez made equal contributions to this study.
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Lara, H.H., Ayala-Núñez, N.V., Ixtepan Turrent, L.d.C. et al. Bactericidal effect of silver nanoparticles against multidrug-resistant bacteria.World J Microbiol Biotechnol 26, 615–621 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-009-0211-3
- Received: 09 June 2009
- Accepted: 05 October 2009
- Published: 22 October 2009
- Issue date: April 2010
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-009-0211-3