Silversol (a Colloidal Nanosilver Formulation) Inhibits Growth of Antibiotic-Resistant by Disrupting Its Physiology in Multiple Ways

Antibiotic-resistant strains of are being viewed as a serious threat by various public health agencies. Identifying novel targets in this important pathogen is crucial to the development of new effective antibacterial formulations. We investigated the antibacterial effect of a colloidal nanosilver formulation, Silversol, against an antibiotic-resistant strain of using appropriate in vitro assays. Moreover, we deciphered the molecular mechanisms underlying this formulation's anti- activity using whole transcriptome analysis. Lower concentrations of the test formulation exerted a bacteriostatic effect against this pathogen, and higher concentrations exerted a bactericidal effect. Silversol at sub-lethal concentration was found to disturb multiple physiological traits of such as growth, antibiotic susceptibility, membrane permeability, efflux, protein synthesis and export, biofilm and exopolysaccharide production, etc. Transcriptome data revealed that the genes coding for transcriptional regulators, efflux machinery, transferases, β-lactam resistance, oxidoreductases, metal homeostasis, virulence factors, and arginine biosynthesis are expressed differently under the influence of the test formulation. Genes ( and ) involved in arginine biosynthesis emerged among the major targets of Silversols antibacterial activity against .