Silversol^® (a Colloidal Nanosilver Formulation) Inhibits Growth of Antibiotic-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> by Disrupting Its Physiology in Multiple Ways

• Main Authors: Nidhi Thakkar (Author), Gemini Gajera (Author), Dilip Mehta (Author), Vijay Kothari (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Antibiotic-resistant strains of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> are being viewed as a serious threat by various public health agencies. Identifying novel targets in this important pathogen is crucial to the development of new effective antibacterial formulations. We investigated the antibacterial effect of a colloidal nanosilver formulation, Silversol^®, against an antibiotic-resistant strain of <i>S. aureus</i> using appropriate in vitro assays. Moreover, we deciphered the molecular mechanisms underlying this formulation's anti-<i>S. aureus</i> activity using whole transcriptome analysis. Lower concentrations of the test formulation exerted a bacteriostatic effect against this pathogen, and higher concentrations exerted a bactericidal effect. Silversol^® at sub-lethal concentration was found to disturb multiple physiological traits of <i>S. aureus</i> such as growth, antibiotic susceptibility, membrane permeability, efflux, protein synthesis and export, biofilm and exopolysaccharide production, etc. Transcriptome data revealed that the genes coding for transcriptional regulators, efflux machinery, transferases, β-lactam resistance, oxidoreductases, metal homeostasis, virulence factors, and arginine biosynthesis are expressed differently under the influence of the test formulation. Genes (<i>argG</i> and <i>argH</i>) involved in arginine biosynthesis emerged among the major targets of Silversol^®'s antibacterial activity against <i>S. aureus</i>.

Item Description

10.3390/pharmaceutics16060726
1999-4923