Molecules (Jun 2023)

Zinc Oxide Quantum Dots May Provide a Novel Potential Treatment for Antibiotic-Resistant <i>Streptococcus agalactiae</i> in <i>Lama glama</i>

  • Ziyao Zhou,
  • Ting Zhang,
  • Yixin Chen,
  • Xiaoxiao Zhou,
  • Yalin Zhong,
  • Haifeng Liu,
  • Zhijun Zhong,
  • Yanchun Hu,
  • Fei Liao,
  • Xianxiang Wang,
  • Guangneng Peng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135115
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 13
p. 5115

Abstract

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Streptococcus agalactiae is a significant pathogen that can affect both human beings and animals. The extensive current use of antibiotics has resulted in antibiotic resistance. In our previous research, we found that zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) had inhibitory effects on antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. In this study, a strain of Streptococcus agalactiaeWJYT1 with a broad antibiotic-resistant spectrum was isolated and identified from Lama glama at Sichuan Agricultural University Teaching Animal Hospital. The genome for the resistance and virulence genes was analyzed. Additionally, the antibacterial effects and anti-virulence mechanism of ZnO QDs for S. agalactiaeWJYT1 were investigated. The results showed that the genome of S. agalactiaeWJYT1 is 1,943,955 bp, containing 22 resistance genes and 95 virulence genes. ZnO QDs have a good antibacterial effect against S. agalactiaeWJYT1 by reducing bacterial growth and decreasing the expression of virulence genes, including bibA, hylB, sip, and cip, which provides a novel potential treatment for S. agalactiae.

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