Silver nanoparticles （AgNPs） are widely used antimicrobial compounds; however, they may pose a threat to non-targeted bacteria in the environment. In this study high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the...Silver nanoparticles （AgNPs） are widely used antimicrobial compounds; however, they may pose a threat to non-targeted bacteria in the environment. In this study high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the effects of different concentrations of AgNPs （10, 50, and 100 mg kg-1） on soil microbial community structure during short-term （7 d） exposure. The amounts of Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Nitrospirae significantly decreased with increasing AgNP concentration; meanwhile, several other phyla （e.g., Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes） increased and dominated. Nitrosomonas europaea, a well-characterized ammonia- oxidizing bacterium, was used to study the sensitivity of bacteria to AgNPs and ionic silver （Ag＋）. Flow cytometry was used to monitor the toxicity of low （1 mg L-l）, middle （10 mg L-l）, and high concentrations （20 mg L-1） of AgNPs, as well as Ag＋ （1 mg L-1） released into the medium from 20 mg L-1 concentration of AgNPs, towards N. europaea. After 12 h of exposure, the survival rate of N. europaea treated with 1 mg L-1 Ag＋ was significantly lower than those treated with low （1 mg L-1） and middle concentrations （10 mg L-1） of AgNPs, but the survival rate in the treatment with high concentration （20 mg L-1） of AgNPs was much lower. Additionally, necrosis rates were higher in the treatment with 20 mg L-1 AgNPs. Electron microscopy showed that Ag＋ caused serious damage to the cell wall of N. europaea, disintegrated the nucleoids, and condensed next to the cell membrane; however, dissolved Ag＋ is only one of the antibacterial mechanisms of AgNPs.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41430752)
文摘Silver nanoparticles （AgNPs） are widely used antimicrobial compounds; however, they may pose a threat to non-targeted bacteria in the environment. In this study high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the effects of different concentrations of AgNPs （10, 50, and 100 mg kg-1） on soil microbial community structure during short-term （7 d） exposure. The amounts of Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Nitrospirae significantly decreased with increasing AgNP concentration; meanwhile, several other phyla （e.g., Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes） increased and dominated. Nitrosomonas europaea, a well-characterized ammonia- oxidizing bacterium, was used to study the sensitivity of bacteria to AgNPs and ionic silver （Ag＋）. Flow cytometry was used to monitor the toxicity of low （1 mg L-l）, middle （10 mg L-l）, and high concentrations （20 mg L-1） of AgNPs, as well as Ag＋ （1 mg L-1） released into the medium from 20 mg L-1 concentration of AgNPs, towards N. europaea. After 12 h of exposure, the survival rate of N. europaea treated with 1 mg L-1 Ag＋ was significantly lower than those treated with low （1 mg L-1） and middle concentrations （10 mg L-1） of AgNPs, but the survival rate in the treatment with high concentration （20 mg L-1） of AgNPs was much lower. Additionally, necrosis rates were higher in the treatment with 20 mg L-1 AgNPs. Electron microscopy showed that Ag＋ caused serious damage to the cell wall of N. europaea, disintegrated the nucleoids, and condensed next to the cell membrane; however, dissolved Ag＋ is only one of the antibacterial mechanisms of AgNPs.
