This pilot study investigated the metabolic responses of five selected bacteria to physiological stress. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze spectral changes associated with the release of adenine, a key metabolite indicative of stress conditions. Laboratory-synthesized spherical silver and gold nanoparticles, which remained stable over an extended period, were employed as enhanced surfaces. Bacterial cultures were analyzed under standard conditions and in the presence of a selected stressor-demineralized water-inducing osmotic stress. The results showed that the adenine signal originated from metabolites released into the surrounding environment rather than directly from the bacterial cell wall. The study confirms the suitability of these cost-effective and easily synthesized stable nanoparticles for the qualitative detection of bacterial metabolites using a commercially available Raman instrument.

• Keywords
• Ag-NPs, Au-NPs, Escherichia coli, SERS, Staphylococcus aureus, phenylalanine,
• MeSH
• Adenine * analysis   isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Bacteria * metabolism   MeSH
• Stress, Physiological * MeSH
• Metal Nanoparticles chemistry   MeSH
• Spectrum Analysis, Raman * methods   MeSH
• Silver chemistry   MeSH
• Gold chemistry   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenine * MeSH
• Silver MeSH
• Gold MeSH