Diseases caused by Staphylococcus warneri have a significant impact on human health. We evaluated the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles (synthesized using the endophytic strain SYSU 333150) against S. warneri. The strain SYSU 333150 was isolated from the roots of Borszczowia aralocaspica Bunge. The 16S rRNA sequence results suggest that SYSU 333150 belongs to the genus Isoptericola and is likely a new species. Photo-irradiation was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles, which were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The nanoparticles were spherical and measured to be11 to 40 nm. X-ray diffraction revealed four peaks corresponding to the 111, 200, 220, and 311 planes of the face-centered cubic lattice, indicating a crystalline nature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested that the metabolites in the culture supernatant were likely reducing and capping agents. The silver nanoparticles possessed antimicrobial activity (14 mm zone of inhibition) against S. warneri, which was likely a result of DNA cleavage. The synthesized silver nanoparticles have potent antibacterial activity against S. warneri and can be used to control infection.
Keywords: DNA cleavage study; Staphylococcus warneri; antibacterial activity; endophyte; silver nanoparticles.