Effects of engineered silver nanoparticles on the growth and activity of ecologically important microbes. Issue 5 (17th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beddow, Jessica; Stolpe, Björn; Cole, Paula; Lead, Jamie R.; Sapp, Melanie; Lyons, Brett P.; Colbeck, Ian; Whitby, Corinne
• Is Part Of: Environmental microbiology reports. Volume 6:Issue 5(2014)
• Page Start: 448
• Page End: 458
• Publication Date: 2014-02-17
• Subjects: Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Environmental Microbiology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12147
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-2229

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Currently, little is known about the impact of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on ecologically important microorganisms such as ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB). We performed a multi‐analytical approach to demonstrate the effects of uncapped nanosilver (uAgNP), capped nanosilver (cAgNP) and Ag<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> on the activities of the AOB: <italic>N</italic><italic>itrosomonas europaea</italic>, <italic>N</italic><italic>itrosospira multiformis</italic> and <italic>N</italic><italic>itrosococcus oceani</italic>, and the growth of <italic>E</italic><italic>scherichia coli</italic> and <italic>B</italic><italic>acillus subtilis</italic> as model bacterial systems in relation to AgNP type and concentration. All Ag treatments caused significant inhibition to the nitrification potential rates (NPRs) of <italic>N</italic><italic>itrosomonas europaea</italic> (decreased from 34 to < 16.7 μM NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> oxidized day<sup>−1</sup>), <italic>N</italic><italic>itrosospira multiformis</italic> (decreased from 46 to < 24.8 μM NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> oxidized day<sup>−1</sup>) and <italic>N</italic><italic>itrosococcus oceani</italic> (decreased from 26 to < 18.4 μM NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> oxidized day<sup>−1</sup>). <italic>E</italic><italic>scherichia coli</italic>‐Ag interactions revealed that the percentage of damaged <italic>E</italic><italic>. coli</italic> cells was 45% greater with Ag<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>, 39% with cAgNPs and 33% with uAgNPs compared with controls. Generally, the inhibitory effect on AOB NPRs and <italic>E</italic><italic>. coli</italic>/<italic>B</italic><italic>. subtilis</italic> growth was in the following order Ag<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> > cAgNP > uAgNP. In conclusion, AgNPs (especially cAgNPs) and Ag<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> adversely affected AOB activities and thus have the potential to severely impact key microbially driven processes such as nitrification in the environment.</p> </abstract>