Antibacterial activity of silver-killed bacteria: the "zombies" effect
Abstract
We report a previously unrecognized mechanism for the prolonged action of biocidal agents, which we denote as the zombies effect: biocidally-killed bacteria are capable of killing living bacteria. The concept is demonstrated by first killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 with silver nitrate and then challenging, with the dead bacteria, a viable culture of the same bacterium: Efficient antibacterial activity of the killed bacteria is observed. A mechanism is suggested in terms of the action of the dead bacteria as a reservoir of silver, which, due to Le-Chatelier's principle, is re-targeted to the living bacteria. Langmuirian behavior, as well as deviations from it, support the proposed mechanism.
- Publication:
-
Scientific Reports
- Pub Date:
- April 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1038/srep09555
- Bibcode:
- 2015NatSR...5E9555W