Genus-Wide Physicochemical Evidence of Extracellular Crystalline Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesis by Morganella spp.
2011

Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Morganella

publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Parikh Rasesh Y., Ramanathan Rajesh, Coloe Peter J., Bhargava Suresh K., Patole Milind S., Shouche Yogesh S., Bansal Vipul

Primary Institution: National Centre for Cell Science, Pune University Campus, Pune, India

Hypothesis

Is extracellular silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) production a genus-wide phenotype associated with all members of genus Morganella?

Conclusion

All members of the genus Morganella can synthesize extracellular crystalline silver nanoparticles, independent of environmental changes.

Supporting Evidence

  • All Morganella biogroups formed dark brown solutions indicating AgNPs formation.
  • AgNPs synthesis was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, and XRD.
  • AgNPs production reached saturation within 20 hours for most biogroups.
  • AgNPs synthesis was not observed in closely related genera of Enterobacteriaceae.
  • Presence of SilE gene homologue was confirmed in all Morganella strains.

Takeaway

This study shows that a group of bacteria called Morganella can make tiny silver particles, and all types of Morganella can do this, not just one kind.

Methodology

Morganella isolates were exposed to Ag+ ions, and the resulting nanoparticles were analyzed using TEM, UV-vis, and XRD.

Limitations

The study does not explore the optimal conditions for AgNPs synthesis for each Morganella biogroup.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0021401

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