The myth of antibiotic spider silk

Summary

Spider silk is frequently attributed antimicrobial properties. This notion is based on studies reporting antimicrobial activity (AMA) of spider silk; however, close inspection of these studies reveals that the evidence is conflicting, and at best anecdotal. We performed a systematic study of antimicrobial properties of different silk types from seven species across the spider phylogeny. We found no evidence of AMA of silk in direct contact and disc diffusion assays against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida, and the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis. Furthermore, staining experiments and fluorescence microscopy showed the presence of live bacteria on silk surfaces indicating no antimicrobial effect on direct contact. A critical evaluation of the literature reveals that published tests of AMA are scarce and that all the studies claiming positive results are compromised by methodological shortcomings. Our analysis demonstrates that the common notion that spider silk is antimicrobial is not supported by empirical data.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

• •

  Tests of silk from 7 spider species revealed no evidence for antimicrobial activity AMA

• •

  Reports of AMA of spider silk are compromised by inadequate controls or contamination

• •

  Published reports of AMA cannot be unequivocally attributed to spider silk

• •

  The notion of inherent antimicrobial spider silk is not supported by empirical data

Abstract

Entomology; Bacteriology