Systems-level analysis of Escherichia coli response to silver nanoparticles: The roles of anaerobic respiration in microbial resistance

Despite extensive use of silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial applications, cellular mechanisms underlying microbial response to silver nanoparticles remain to be further elucidated at the systems level. Here, we report systems-level response of Escherichia coli to silver nanoparticles using transcriptome-based biochemical and phenotype assays. Notably, we provided the evidence that anaerobic respiration is induced upon exposure to silver nanoparticles. Further we showed that anaerobic respiration-related regulators and enzymes play an important role in E. coli resistance to silver nanoparticles. In particular, our results suggest that arcA is essential for resistance against silver NPs and the deletion of fnr, fdnH and narH significantly increases the resistance. We envision that this study offers novel insights into modes of antimicrobial action of silver nanoparticles, and cellular mechanisms contributing to the development of microbial resistance to silver nanoparticles.

► Systems-level analyses of Escherichia coli response to silver nanoparticles.
► Anaerobic respiration induced upon exposure to silver nanoparticles.
► Anaerobic respiration-related genes involved in silver nanoparticle resistance.