Bahareh Panahi - Biology Department, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tehran North Branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Mahkameh Soleiman Meygouni - Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Davood Zaeifi - Biology Department, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tehran North Branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Objective(s): Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common causes of infections affecting the skin and soft tissues, which causes many types of syndromes, including skin and soft tissue infections in humans. The quick occurrence of resistance to many antimicrobial substances and severe infections requires long-term intravenous administration of beta-lactamase-resistant Penicillin. Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial activity of γ-Al۲O۳ nanoparticles (NPs) against ۲۰ clinical samples of S. aureus isolated from skin exudates compared with the standard  ATCC ۲۵۹۲۳ strain investigated alone and in synergy with an antibiotic showed resistance. The most resistant isolates were selected based on being positive for MepA and Kirby and Bauer disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of γ-Al۲O۳ NPs against S. aureus was determined within ۰-۳۶۰ min treatment time. Then, the double-disc synergy test (DDST) method was performed for semi-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant strains to evaluate the probable inhibitory effect in synergy form.Results: The selected isolate expressed the MepA gene, showed the highest susceptibility reaction against γ-Al۲O۳ NPs in Z=۷۸.۱۲۵ ml/μg-۱ and Z=۱۵۶.۲۵ ml/μg-۱, and the process continued by performing the best ratio of NPs on semi-sensitive and also resistance antibiotic in synergy with NPs for the bacteria strains. The synergy of γ-Al۲O۳ NPs and Tetracycline, Oxacillin, and Ceftazidime showed higher sensitivity compared to using antibiotics alone. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that γ-Al۲O۳ has a strong antimicrobial effect and can enhance the properties and characteristics of antibacterial potency in synergy or developed synthetic functionalized NPs with antibiotics.

MepA gene, Staphylococcus aureus, Skin exudates, γ-Al۲O۳ nanoparticles