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Section I: Biological Sciences.

Article Excerpt
2:00 SILVER-IMPREGNATED ALUMINA AS AN ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT **, Gemeia Cameron* (1), David Collart (1), Eric Mintz (2), Olivier Katembo * (2), Conrad Ingram (2) and Godwin Ananaba (1), (1) Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30134 and (2) Chemistry Department, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30134. The recognition of the anti-microbial activity of oligodynamic metals such as silver has been a basis for the development of many anti-microbial processes and products. Nanosized silver particles have numerous commercial applications, including disinfection of water, food processing and disinfection of healthcare equipment. In Escherichia coli (E. coli), which are vulnerable to silver, it has been suggested that the lipopolysaccharides on their surface contain high affinity binding sites for divalent cations. It has been shown that silver interacts with the cell membranes of bacteria, which alters their mesosomal functions, such as their ability to aid DNA replication. The nature of the bactericidal activity of silver and more specifically silver impregnated alumina is poorly understood. However, we hypothesize that silver in complex with alumina destroys bacteria by oxidation of the plasma membrane and inhibition of its energy metabolism. To study this hypothesis, we exposed E. coli to various concentrations of metallic silver, impregnated on the surface of alumina and determined its effects in compromising cellular integrity and disrupting cellular processes. Our studies reveal that increasing the concentration of silver-impregnated alumina results in a decrease in bacteria viability. This study suggests that silver's ability to kill bacteria is dose dependent. Also, this study suggests silver adsorption upon contact with bacteria. The results of our studies show that silver-impregnated alumina is an effective anti-microbial reagent. Based on this data, we believe that this novel silver anti-microbial reagent is an adequate and cost-effective medium that could be used to improve water quality. (This project was supported by NSF Grant # CTS-0120978, Water CAMPWS, and NIH Grant #GM08247.)

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