Silversol®(a colloidal nanosilver formulation) inhibits growth of antibiotic-resistantStaphylococcus aureusby disrupting its physiology in multiple ways

Abstract

AbstractAntibacterial effect of a colloidal nanosilver formulation Silversol®was investigated against an antibiotic-resistant strain ofStaphylococcus aureus. Lower concentrations of the test formulation exerted bacteriostatic and, its higher concentrations exerted bactericidal effect against this pathogen. Silversol®at sub-lethal concentration was found to disturb multiple physiological traits ofS. aureussuch as growth, antibiotic susceptibility, membrane permeability, efflux, protein synthesis and export, biofilm and exopolysaccharide production, etc. Transcriptome data revealed the genes coding for transcriptional regulators, efflux machinery, transferases, β-lactam resistance, oxidoreductases, metal homeostasis, virulence factors, and arginine biosynthesis to get expressed differently under influence of the test formulation. Genes (argGandargH) involved in arginine biosynthesis emerged among the major targets of Silversol®inS. aureus.