Drug resistance traits are rapidly disseminated across bacteria by horizontal gene transfer, especially through plasmids. Plasmid curing agents that are active both in vitro and in vivo will resensitize Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) bacteria to antimicrobial agents. Pectin capped platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) at sub MIC (20 µM) concentration was effective, in causing loss of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) harboring plasmid as evidenced by, absence of plasmid in agarose gel and by a concomitant (16–64 fold) drop in MIC for cell wall inhibitors ceftriaxone and meropenem, in carbapenem resistant Escherichia coli (CREC). Interestingly, the plasmid cured strain exhibited small colony morphology and displayed slower growth both in vitro and in vivo . Complementation of cured strain with plasmid from the wild type strain restored resistance towards meropenem and ceftriaxone. Relative to wild type, plasmid cured strain displayed 50% reduction in biofilm formation. Plasmid curing also occurred in vivo in infected zebrafish with curing efficiency of 17% for nanoparticle + meropenem treatment. PtNPs + meropenem reduced bioburden of CREC in infected zebrafish by 2.4 log CFU. Mechanistic studies revealed that nanoparticle interacted with cell surface and perturbed inner membrane integrity. PtNPs did not induce ROS, yet it caused plasmid DNA cleavage, as evidenced by gyrase inhibition assay. Our study for the first time reveals that PtNPs as plasmid curing agent can resensitize MDR bacteria to selective antimicrobial agents in vivo .

Oryza coarctata is the only wild rice species with significant salinity tolerance. The present work examines the role of the substantial rhizomatous tissues of O. coarctata in conferring salinity tolerance. Transition to an erect phenotype (shoot emergence) from prostrate growth of rhizome tissues is characterized by marked lignification and suberization of supporting sclerenchymatous tissue, epidermis and bundle sheath cells in aerial shoot proximal nodes and internodes in O. coarctata. With salinity however, aerial shoot proximal internodal tissues show reductions in lignification and suberization, most likely related to re-direction of carbon flux towards synthesis of osmporotectant proline. Concurrent with hypolignification and reduced suberization, the aerial rhizomatous biomass of O. coarctata appears to have evolved mechanisms to store Na + in these specific tissues under salinity. This was confirmed by histochemical staining, RT-qPCR expression patterns of genes involved in lignification/suberization, Na +, K + contents of internodal tissues as well as non-invasive microelectrode ion flux measurements of NaCl-induced net Na +, K + and H + flux profiles of aerial nodes. In O. coarctata, aerial proximal internodes appear to act as ‘traffic controllers’, sending required amounts of Na +, K + into developing leaves for osmotic adjustment and turgor-driven growth while more deeply positioned internodes assume a Na + buffering/storage role.