Nano-managing silver and zinc as bio-conservational approach against pathogens of the honey bee

• Published in: Journal of biotechnology 2023-03, Vol.365, p.1-10
• Main Authors: Hussain, Riaz, Hasan, Murtaza, Iqbal, Khalid Javed, Zafar, Ayesha, Tariq, Tuba, Saif, Muhammad Saqib, Hassan, Shahbaz Gul, Shu, Xugang, Caprioli, Giovanni, Anjum, Syed Ishtiaq
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Bacterial and fungal pathogen; Bees; Honey bee; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nanoparticles; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Silver - chemistry; Silver - pharmacology; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Withania fruit; Zinc - pharmacology; Zinc Oxide - chemistry; Zinc Oxide - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0168-1656; 1873-4863
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2023.01.009

Herein, silver and zinc oxide Nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by using W. coagulant fruit extract as reducing agent and capping agent. The green synthesized NP with distinct properties were used for novel application against fungal and bacterial pathogen of honey bee (A. mellifera). The UV-spectroscopy confirms the synthesis of silver and zinc oxide NPs at 420 nm and 350 nm respectively. Further, XRD evaluated the monoclinic structure of Ag NPs while ZnO NPs showed wurtzite hexagonalcrystlized structure. Resistant honey bee pathogens such Paenibacilluslarvae, Melissococcus plutonius and Ascosphaera apis were isolated, identified and cultured in vitro to assess the antimicrobial potentials of Ag and ZnO NPs. Additionally, different biomolecules provide access to achieve maximum and stable Ag and ZnO NPs. It was also observed that with increasing the concentration of zinc oxide NPs and sliver NPs, zone of inhibition was also increased. Thus, present findings show that plant extracts can be a useful natural resource to prepare functional nonmaterial for targeted applications especially in the field of apicultural research. •Withania is a promising candidate for synthesis of silver and zinc nanoparticles.•Withania has Bio-reducing functional molecules for NPs synthesis.•Silver and Zinc NPs characterization were confirmed via UV-spectroscopy, XRD and SEM.•Silver showed monoclinic while Zinc NPs showed wurtzite hexagonal crystlized structure.•Silver and Zinc NPs showed activity against bee pathogen Melissococcus, Ascosphaera.