Physiological Response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Silver Stress

• Published in: Journal of fungi (Basel) Vol. 8; no. 5; p. 539
• Main Authors: Robinson, Janelle R, Isikhuemhen, Omoanghe S, Anike, Felicia N, Subedi, Kiran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 22.05.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Antimicrobial agents; Biosynthesis; Calcium (intracellular); Copper; Ethanol; Experiments; Fermentation; Fungi; Growth curves; Micrography; Microscopy; Morphology; mycosynthesis; Nanoparticles; physiological response; Physiology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Scanning electron microscopy; Silver; silver nanoparticle; silver nitrate; Sodium; Spectroscopy; Transmission electron microscopy; Yeast; Nigeria; United States > US; silver nitrate; mycosynthesis; silver nanoparticle; physiological response; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• ISSN: 2309-608X; 2309-608X
• DOI: 10.3390/jof8050539

Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) production and their use as antimicrobial agents is a current area of active research. Biosynthesis is the most sustainable production method, and fungi have become candidates of interest in AgNP production. However, investigations into the physiological responses of fungi due to silver exposure are scanty. This present work utilized two strains of (one used in commercial fermentation and a naturally occurring strain) to determine the physiological consequences of their transient exposure to AgNO . The assessments were based on studies involving growth curves, minimal inhibitory concentration assays, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Results indicated (a) the capability of to produce silver nanoparticles, even at elevated levels of exposure; (b) strain origin had no significant impact on physiological response to AgNO ; and (c) coexposure to copper and silver significantly increased intracellular copper, silver, and calcium in treated yeast cells. In addition, electron microscopy and ICP-OES results revealed that both strains internalized silver after exposure, resulting in the shrunken and distorted physical appearance visible on SEM micrographs of treated cells. Though a promising candidate for AgNPs biosynthesis, this study analyzed the effects of transient silver exposure on growth physiology and morphology.