Mechanism of resistance to silver ions in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

The uptake of silver by an experimentally derived silver-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain was three to four times lower than the uptake by a susceptible strain. Spheroplasts of the two strains showed no difference in uptake. AgNO3 at a concentration of 40 micrograms/ml decreased the succinate dehydrogenase activity in susceptible and resistant strains by 100 and 18%, respectively. More than one resistance mechanism may be involved.