Characterization, antibacterial and antibiofilm evaluation of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from Pseudomonas aeruginosa against drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is regarded as one of the top three terrible events threatening the worldwide existence of humans Here of, Acinetobacter baumannii evolved as the most challenging pathogen threatening to initiate the post-antibiotic era. Their ability to withstand antibiotics is attributed to a set of virulence determinants in particular biofilms which are known to enhance pathogenesis and drug resistance potency. Studies regarding green silver nanoparticles (AgNP)s as an alternative treatment modality to antibiotics increased over recent years. Considering these facts, we aimed to explore the antibiofilm effect of AgNPs in the multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. AgNPs were bio-fabricated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and characterized via FTIR, UV-Vis, XRD, EDS, and SEM. Well-diffusion was used to screen the antimicrobial effects of AgNPs. Minimal-inhibitory concentrations of AgNPs were determined to study their antibiofilm effect at sub-inhibitory concentrations (SIC). Results showed that all isolates were biofilm producers and portrayed high resistance to the tested antibiotics. Characterization results supported the successful fabrication of crystalline nanoparticles. Exposure of the isolates to the bacteriogenic AgNPs resulted in pronounced inhibition zones and reduced biofilms at SICs values. These results indicate that Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be employed to produce AgNPs with an aptitude to disrupt biofilm development and growth in the multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter ­­­­­baumannii.

Keywords

• drug resistance, biofilm, Acinetobacter baumannii, biogenic silver nanoparticles