Antimicrobial Activity of Biosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticles from Staphylococcus warneri and its Impact on the PhzM Gene Expression in Clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections have been identified as a worldwide public health problem. In order to battle bacteria resistant to antibiotics, new strategies are required. As a subset of antimicrobial peptides, bacteriocin-selenium nanoparticles (NPs) can be used in place of or in addition to recognized antibiotics. Se NPs were characterized by different techniques following their biosynthesis by Staphylococcus warneri bacteriocin like inhibitory substances. The inhibitory effect of synergetic consortia was examined using a broad panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Ultimately, Conventional PCR was employed to identify the pyocyanin PhzM gene and RT-PCR to determine the impact of Se NPs on its gene expression. The results showed considerable antibacterial activity against most isolates of staphylococcus spp. as well as Candida albicans, Candida guilliermondii, and Candida ciferrii, along with low toxicity and strong antioxidant action. The results of the real-time PCR approach showed that the expression of PhzM was either considerably up- or down-regulated in the isolates treated with SeNPs compared to the untreated isolates. It was concluded that Se NPs have antimicrobial properties that make them a promising alternative to antibiotics.