Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Studying Copper Nanoparticle-Induced Programmed Cell Death in Bacteria
08:22

Studying Copper Nanoparticle-Induced Programmed Cell Death in Bacteria

Published on: May 16, 2025

Modulation of efflux pump gene expression in Enterococcus faecium by tungsten nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon

Mahsa Khosroparviz1, Akram Sadat Tabatabaee Bafroee2,3, Kumars Amini4

  • 1Department of Biology, ET.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Molecular Biology Reports
|May 18, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Tungsten nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes show antibacterial effects against multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium. These nanomaterials also reduce the expression of efflux pump genes, offering potential as adjunctive therapies for resistant infections.

Area of Science:

  • Nanomedicine
  • Microbiology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) is a common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) in E. faecium is often due to efflux pump systems.
  • These pumps reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics by expelling them from bacterial cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze antibiotic resistance patterns in clinical E. faecium isolates.
  • To evaluate the antibacterial and efflux pump-modulating properties of tungsten nanoparticles (WNPs) and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).

Main Methods:

  • Antibiotic susceptibility testing and detection of efflux genes (efrA, efrB, emeA) in 58 E. faecium UTI isolates.
  • Synthesis and characterization of WNPs and MWCNTs.
  • Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays and quantitative real-time PCR to assess gene expression changes after nanoparticle treatment.

Main Results:

  • High resistance rates observed for erythromycin (86.2%), tetracycline (81.0%), fluoroquinolones, and vancomycin (48.3%).
  • Approximately 85% of isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR).
  • WNPs and MWCNTs showed antibacterial activity (MICs of 750 µg/mL and 375 µg/mL, respectively) and downregulated efflux pump gene expression (1.8- to 2-fold).

Conclusions:

  • Tungsten nanoparticles and functionalized MWCNTs possess antibacterial activity against MDR E. faecium.
  • These nanomaterials effectively modulate efflux pump gene expression, suggesting a mechanism to overcome resistance.
  • Further research and in vivo studies are warranted to explore their potential as adjunctive antimicrobial agents.
Keywords:
Enterococcus faeciumAntimicrobial activityEfflux pumpMulti-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)Multidrug resistance (MDR)Tungsten nanoparticles (WNPs)Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

More Related Videos

Characterizing Multidrug Efflux Systems in Acinetobacter baumannii Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System05:06

Characterizing Multidrug Efflux Systems in Acinetobacter baumannii Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System

Published on: January 5, 2024

Preparation of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and the Evaluation of their Antibacterial Effects06:42

Preparation of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and the Evaluation of their Antibacterial Effects

Published on: September 27, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Microbial Corrosion01:24

Microbial Corrosion

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...
Stringent Response in E. coli01:23

Stringent Response in E. coli

Bacterial growth is closely tied to nutrient availability, with cells proliferating exponentially under favorable conditions and entering a stationary phase when resources become scarce. This transition is mediated by a regulatory mechanism known as the stringent response, which allows bacteria to adapt to nutrient deprivation by modulating gene expression and metabolic activity.During nutrient scarcity, intracellular amino acid levels decline. It results in the accumulation of uncharged tRNAs...