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Phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles as antiquorum sensing and antibiofilm agent against the nosocomial pathogen Serratia marcescens : an in vitro study
Author(s) -
Ravindran D.,
Ramanathan S.,
Arunachalam K.,
Jeyaraj G.P.,
Shunmugiah K.P.,
Arumugam V.R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.13728
Subject(s) - serratia marcescens , biofilm , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence , prodigiosin , quorum sensing , pathogen , biology , chemistry , bacteria , escherichia coli , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Aim Serratia marcescens is an important multidrug‐resistant human pathogen. The pathogenicity of S. marcescens mainly depends on the quorum sensing ( QS ) mechanism, which regulates the virulence factors production and biofilm formation. Hence, targeting QS mechanism in S. marcescens will ultimately pave the way to combat its pathogenicity. Thus, the present study is intended to evaluate the efficacy of Vetiveria zizanioides root extract‐mediated silver nanoparticles (Ag NP s) as a potent anti‐ QS and antibiofilm agent against S. marcescens . Methods and Results The Ag NP s were synthesized using V. zizanioides aqueous root extract and the physiochemical properties of V. zizanioides‐ based Ag NP s (VzAg NP s) were evaluated using analytical techniques such as ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and scanning and transmission electron microscopic techniques. VzAg NP s were found to attenuate the QS ‐dependent virulence factors, namely prodigiosin, protease, lipase, exopolysaccharide productions and biofilm formation of S. marcescens , without inhibiting its growth. Further, the transcriptomic analysis confirmed the down‐regulation of QS ‐dependent genes, which encode for the production of virulence factors and biofilm formation. Conclusion The current study confirms VzAg NP s as an ideal anti‐ QS and antibiofilm agent against S. marcescens . Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first approach that validates the anti‐ QS and antibiofilm potential of phytosynthesized VzAg NP s against the nosocomial pathogen, S. marcescens . As VzAg NP s exhibits potent antivirulent activities, it could be used to treat hospital‐acquired S. marcescens infections.