Insight into the Antibacterial Activity of Selected Metal Nanoparticles and Alterations within the Antioxidant Defence System in <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Bacillus cereus</i> and <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>

The antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles (NPs) is a desirable feature of various products but can become problematic when NPs are released into different ecosystems, potentially endangering living microorganisms. Although there is an abundance of advanced studies on the toxicity and biological ac...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Oliwia Metryka, Daniel Wasilkowski, Agnieszka Mrozik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-10-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/21/11811
Description
Summary:The antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles (NPs) is a desirable feature of various products but can become problematic when NPs are released into different ecosystems, potentially endangering living microorganisms. Although there is an abundance of advanced studies on the toxicity and biological activity of NPs on microorganisms, the information regarding their detailed interactions with microbial cells and the induction of oxidative stress remains incomplete. Therefore, this work aimed to develop accurate oxidation stress profiles of <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Bacillus cereus</i> and <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> strains treated with commercial Ag-NPs, Cu-NPs, ZnO-NPs and TiO<sub>2</sub>-NPs. The methodology used included the following determinations: toxicological parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzymes and dehydrogenases, reduced glutathione, oxidatively modified proteins and lipid peroxidation. The toxicological studies revealed that <i>E. coli</i> was most sensitive to NPs than <i>B. cereus</i> and <i>S. epidermidis</i>. Moreover, NPs induced the generation of specific ROS in bacterial cells, causing an increase in their concentration, which further resulted in alterations in the activity of the antioxidant defence system and protein oxidation. Significant changes in dehydrogenases activity and elevated lipid peroxidation indicated a negative effect of NPs on bacterial outer layers and respiratory activity. In general, NPs were characterised by very specific nano-bio effects, depending on their physicochemical properties and the species of microorganism.
ISSN:1661-6596
1422-0067