Role of bacterial motility in differential resistance mechanisms of silver nanoparticles and silver ions

Unlike conventional antimicrobials, the study of bacterial resistance to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) remains in its infancy and the mechanism(s) through which it evolves are limited and inconclusive. The central question remains whether bacterial resistance is driven by the AgNPs, released Ag(I) ions or a combination of these and other factors. Here, we show a specific resistance in an Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 strain to subinhibitory concentrations of AgNPs, and not Ag(I) ions, as indicated by a statistically significant greater-than-twofold increase in the minimum inhibitory concentration occurring after eight repeated passages that was maintained after the AgNPs were removed and reintroduced. Whole-population genome sequencing identified a cusS mutation associated with the heritable resistance that possibly increased silver ion efflux. Finally, we rule out the effect of particle aggregation on resistance and suggest that the mechanism of resistance may be enhanced or mediated by flagellum-based motility. Bacterial motility may be used as an important predictor of whether a particular bacteria strain can develop AgNP resistance and could inform design of nanoenabled antimicrobials that mechanistically target specific types of bacteria.