Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2025
08:33
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: November 17, 2018
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Low dose antibiotic ingestion potentiates systemic and microbiome changes induced by silver nanoparticles
Matthew J Meier1, K C Nguyen2, J Crosthwait1
1Environmental Health, Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
Nanoimpact
|May 13, 2022
Summary
Repeated ingestion of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with antibiotics significantly alters the gut microbiome and potentiates AgNP harm. This highlights risks from consumer products when the gut microbiome is compromised, particularly during antibiotic use.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Gut microbiome alterations are linked to immunological dysfunction and disease.
- Antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are common in consumer products, raising concerns about ingestion and health impacts.
- Chronic AgNP ingestion effects remain unclear, necessitating investigation into organ function, immunity, metabolism, and microbiota.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biological effects of chronic AgNP ingestion, alone and in combination with antibiotics, on mouse health and gut microbiota.
- To assess AgNP distribution in tissues following repeated oral exposure.
- To determine AgNP and antibiotic impacts on host physiology, immune markers, and gut microbial structure and function.
Main Methods:
- Mice were gavaged daily for 5 weeks with saline, AgNPs, antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and metronidazole), or AgNPs plus antibiotics.
- Physiological parameters (weight, glucose tolerance), organ function, and immune markers (cytokines, leukocytes) were assessed.
- Gut microbiome composition and function were analyzed using 16S rDNA amplicon and whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing.
Main Results:
- Silver was detected in the gastrointestinal tract of mice exposed to AgNPs and antibiotics, with minimal levels in other organs.
- Combined AgNP-antibiotic treatment led to slower weight gain, reduced lymphocytes, and elevated splenic inflammation markers.
- Gut microbiome analysis revealed significant alterations in structure and function, including depletion of Akkermansia muciniphila, in the AgNP-antibiotic group.
Conclusions:
- Combined exposure to AgNPs and antibiotics can cause adverse biological effects, including gut dysbiosis.
- An impaired gut microbiome may exacerbate the harmful effects of AgNP exposure from consumer products.
- These findings raise concerns about the safety of widespread AgNP use, especially in conjunction with antibiotic therapy.
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