Anomaly and correlation of killing in the therapeutic properties of silver (I) chelation with glutamic and tartaric acids.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether silver chelates or silver ions are more effective as therapeutic agents, and to examine their mode of action so that safer and stable compounds that have a broad spectrum of therapeutic activities can be developed.


METHODS
Efficacy was investigated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442) by determining MIC via a broth macrodilution procedure using NCCLS methods for antibiotic susceptibility testing.


RESULTS
It was found that the responsible agent for silver therapeutic properties is the silver chelates rather than silver ions, contradicting previous findings, and the efficacy profiles mimic that of free silver ions present in solution.


CONCLUSIONS
Silver therapeutic activities seem to be more effective as complexes-an intracellular package-rather than free silver ions, demonstrating that the effect of silver is linked to cells' DNA unwinding, and not respiratory or membrane functionality as was traditionally recognized.
Batarseh
Kareen I
KI
Alpha-OmegaBiologicals, 8610 Larkview Lane, Fairfax Station, VA 22039, USA. fractals00@hotmail.com
D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013644:Tartrates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D018030:Silver Compounds; D013644:Tartrates; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D004265:DNA Helicases; D010100:Oxygen; C029768:tartaric acid