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Fig. 6 | Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology

Fig. 6

From: Microbial synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and their potential application as an antimicrobial agent and a feed supplement in animal industry: a review

Fig. 6

Schematic illustration of the antimicrobial mechanism of ZnO NPs against bacterial cells. ZnO NPs act as an antimicrobial agent through the following mechanisms: (1) the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induces oxidative stress and membrane and DNA damage, resulting in bacterial death; (2) dissolution of ZnO NPs into Zn2+, which interferes with enzyme, amino acid, and protein metabolisms in bacterial cells; and (3) direct interaction between ZnO NPs and cell membrane through electrostatic forces that damages the membrane plasma and causes intracellular content leaks

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