Molecular and Conventional Detection of Antimicrobial Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Cinnamon Oil against Escherichia coli and Aspergillus flavus

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and cinnamon oils (C.O.) was evaluated by conventional and molecular methods against Aspergillus flavus (A.flavus) and Escherichia coli 0157 (E.coli) that recovered from cattle mastitis. In agar well diffusion method (WD), Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ZnONPs and C.O. for A.flavus was (100 μg/ml; 0.25%) and for E.coli 0157 were (50 μg/ml; 0.25%), respectively. The synergistic effects of these materials caused higher significant inhibition of all microbial growth by low and high doses by agar method. But, the molecular detection of virulent genes of E. coli (stx1) and A. flavus (AflR) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the real-time PCR (RT-PCR) yielded uncorrelated results with WD tests. It is concluded that no direct correlation between WD, PCR, and RT-PCR and the WD tests are still inexpensive, eco-friendly, and rapidly applicable for screening of antimicrobials activity than genetic methods.

Antifungal Nano-Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: Current Status and Future Prospects

“…These are aqueous mixtures of oil or other hydrophobic components prepared by addition of oil to water overlaid by non-chemical surfactants [ 1 , 16 , 33 , 34 ]. The micelle size in the prepared nanoemulsions may vary from 0.5 to >500 nm.…”

“…The nanosized silver can inhibit the growth of Fusaium sp. at very low concentrations (<100 ppm) [ 16 , 60 ] and led to decreased mycotoxin production [ 1 , 61 ]. Also, Kischkel et al [ 37 ] observed the antifungal activity of the AgNPs against C. albicans , F. oxysporum and M. canis .…”

“…Hybrids of Ag NPs/essential oil were employed in therapy of bovine skin and udder infections [ 5 , 72 ] and carbon NPs [ 73 ]. Hassan et al [ 5 , 16 , 74 ] have reported the efficient conjugation of ZnNPs and AgNPs with cinnamon and olive oils for use at low safe doses for inhibition of growth of toxigenic A. flavus and E. coli and production of respective toxins, whereas, Wang et al [ 75 ] successfully detected that the hybrid of Au NPs with antibodies help in immune-chromatographic exploration and diagnosis of toxic AFM 1 in milk. Similar activities were obtained for QDs to observe events and activities of body cells that were found to be better than the use of traditional dyes and this helped for release of drug to the required site of infection [ 9 , 76 ].…”

“…The supplementation of Zn NPs in aflatoxicated feed of rats and rabbits resulted in the removal of the carcinogenicity of aflatoxins on the kidney and liver [ 72 , 94 ]. The ZnNPs and AgNPs can inhibit the growth of Fusarium poae and prevent formation of trichothecenes mycotoxin [ 16 ]. The Ag NPs can eliminate aflatoxins in chickens feed [ 95 , 96 ].…”

“…Conjugating metal oxide nanoparticles with other antimicrobial components such as essential oils, curcumin or ozone can improve the antimycotoxigenic activities. Also, the antimicrobial, anti-aflatoxins, and anti-shigella toxins potentials of nanoemulsion of cinnamon oil and ZnO NPs towards to fungal causes of dysentery in buffaloes were detected [ 16 ]. Hassan et al [ 72 ] observed that conjugating ZnO-NPs along with probiotic and curcumin improved the inhibitory activities on mycotoxin producing Fusarium sp.…”