Effect of mesoporous silica under Neisseria meningitidis transformation process: environmental effects under meningococci transformation

J Nanobiotechnology. 2011 Jul 25:9:28. doi: 10.1186/1477-3155-9-28.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed the use of mesoporous silica under the naturally transformable Neisseria meningitidis, an important pathogen implicated in the genetic horizontal transfer of DNA causing a escape of the principal vaccination measures worldwide by the capsular switching process. This study verified the effects of mesoporous silica under N. meningitidis transformation specifically under the capsular replacement.

Methods: we used three different mesoporous silica particles to verify their action in N. meningitis transformation frequency.

Results: we verified the increase in the capsular gene replacement of this bacterium with the three mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

Conclusion: the mesouporous silica particles were capable of increasing the capsule replacement frequency in N. meningitidis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Capsules / genetics*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / genetics*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Transformation, Bacterial*

Substances

  • Silicon Dioxide