Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Abstract

Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticles Toxicity against Toxic Black Mold Stachybotrys chartarum

Marwah MB

Stachybotrys chartarum is very common in buildings and homes and will grow anywhere indoors where there is moisture. Therefore, in the current study it was isolated from walls with excessive moisture covered with susceptible paint. As an alternative to synthetic fungicides, the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as antifungal agents has become more widespread. Ag-NPs exhibited a potent antifungal activity against S. chartarum, similar to the antifungal activity of chemical fungicide Carbendazim. Synergistic action was reported when AgNPs was added to chemical fungicide. The inhibition zone in case of 5 ppm of Carbendazim was 12 mm but the addition of 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 75 ppm and 100 ppm of AgNPs increases the inhibition zone to 20 mm, 26 mm, 34 mm and 36 mm respectively. Nine bands of DNA with different molecular weights 8900 bp, 7700 bp, 4600 bp, 2200 bp, 1100 bp, 900 bp, 750 bp, 500 bp and 300 bp were detected in S. chartarum at 50 ppm of AgNPs while one band was detected in untreated fungus with molecular weight 9300 bp indicating that the AgNPs causes DNA fragmentation. SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis was carried out to monitor the change in gene expression of S. chartarum exposed to AgNPs where the protein bands (15 bands) appeared in control and treated S. chartarum except band number 3 with molecular weight 15.0 KD was detected only in control and shifted to 16.0 KD in treated fungus. Finally, AgNPs application to building materials and walls could effectively protect indoor environments from mould development.