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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2008, p. 2171-2178, Vol. 74, No. 7
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02001-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Action of the Silver Ion in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli{triangledown}

Woo Kyung Jung,1,{dagger} Hye Cheong Koo,1,2* Ki Woo Kim,3 Sook Shin,1 So Hyun Kim,1 and Yong Ho Park1*

Department of Microbiology,1 KRF Zoonotic Disease Priority Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science,2 National Instrumentation Center for Environmental Management, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea3

Received 31 August 2007/ Accepted 21 January 2008

The antibacterial effect and mechanism of action of a silver ion solution that was electrically generated were investigated for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by analyzing the growth, morphology, and ultrastructure of the bacterial cells following treatment with the silver ion solution. Bacteria were exposed to the silver ion solution for various lengths of time, and the antibacterial effect of the solution was tested using the conventional plate count method and flow cytometric (FC) analysis. Reductions of more than 5 log10 CFU/ml of both S. aureus and E. coli bacteria were confirmed after 90 min of treatment with the silver ion solution. Significant reduction of S. aureus and E. coli cells was also observed by FC analysis; however, the reduction rate determined by FC analysis was less than that determined by the conventional plate count method. These differences may be attributed to the presence of bacteria in an active but nonculturable (ABNC) state after treatment with the silver ion solution. Transmission electron microscopy showed considerable changes in the bacterial cell membranes upon silver ion treatment, which might be the cause or consequence of cell death. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that silver ions may cause S. aureus and E. coli bacteria to reach an ABNC state and eventually die.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, KRF Zoonotic Disease Priority Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea. Phone: 82-2-880-1257. Fax: 82-2-871-7524. E-mail for Hye Cheong Koo: koohj{at}snu.ac.kr. E-mail for Yong Ho Park: yhp{at}snu.ac.kr

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 1 February 2008.

{dagger} Present address: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Suwon, Korea.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2008, p. 2171-2178, Vol. 74, No. 7
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02001-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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