Evaluation of the role of photodynamic therapy combined with antimicrobial peptides against bacterial resistance

• Grant number: 14/24581-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Carla Raquel Fontana
• Grantee: Laura Marise de Freitas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 16/18378-8 - Modification and enhancement of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for the treatment of oral and head and neck infections, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality based on the administration of a non toxic dye (photosensitizing agent) to the patient with subsequent exposure to a light source of specific wavelength, killing target cells via oxidative damage. Due to the multiple and non-specific nature of death caused by PDT, the development of resistance by the bacterial cells is unlikely. Unlike antibiotics, and similarly to PDT, there are the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are oligopeptides of up to 50 amino acids which have a broad spectrum of activity against microorganisms, mainly acting on the plasma membrane of the microorganisms. Since they do not act on specific cellular functions such as DNA synthesis, or cell wall proteins, the development of resistance against such molecules is an unlikely condition. In recent years, WHO has warned that the "post-antibiotic era" is an increasingly real threat. And although bacterial resistance continues to emerge, the development of new antibiotics rate decreased in the last three decades. Acquired resistance to PDT, although it is thought unlikely, has been investigated, but the studies of potential of microorganisms to develop such resistance are still scarce and controversial. Having PDT as an alternative to currently antimicrobial drugs, investigating its real potential to induce bacterial resistance becomes crucial. Furthermore, to investigate new treatment protocols capable of eliminating resistant strains, especially those lined in combination therapies, appears to be the key to the treatment of infections in this new "post-antibiotic era" approaching. The association of the AMPs to PDT has the potential to be a powerful combination therapy for bacterial reduction in localized infections, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant strains. The combination of PDT and AMPs must be able to kill bacteria more quickly than conventional therapies, to reduce to near zero the occurrence of adverse effects and reduce the overall cost of treatment. (AU)

Scientific publications

(9)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SANTOS-FILHO, NORIVAL ALVES; DE FREITAS, LAURA MARISE; DOS SANTOS, CLAUDIA TAVARES; PICCOLI, JULIA PINTO; FONTANA, CARLA RAQUEL; FUSCO-ALMEIDA, ANA MARISA; CILLI, EDUARDO MAFFUD. nderstanding the mechanism of action of peptide (p-BthTX-I)(2) derived from C-terminal region of phospholipase A2 (PLA(2))-like bothropstoxin-I on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteri. Toxicon, v. 196, p. 44-55, JUN 2021. (14/05538-1, 14/24581-5, 13/07600-3)

SELLERA, FABIO P.; FERNANDES, MIRIAM R.; SABINO, CAETANO P.; DE FREITAS, LAURA M.; DA SILVA, LUCIANO C. B. A.; POGLIANI, FABIO C.; RIBEIRO, MARTHA S.; HAMBLIN, MICHAEL R.; LINCOPAN, NILTON. Effective treatment and decolonization of a dog infected with carbapenemase (VIM-2)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa using probiotic and photodynamic therapies. VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY, v. 30, n. 2, p. 170+, APR 2019. (14/24581-5, 16/08593-9, 15/13527-2)

DE ANNUNZIO, SARAH RAQUEL; DE FREITAS, LAURA MARISE; BLANCO, ANA LIGIA; DA COSTA, MARDOQUEU MARTINS; CARMONA-VARGAS, CHRISTIAN C.; DE OLIVEIRA, KLEBER THIAGO; FONTANA, CARLA RAQUEL. Susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis and Propionibacterium acnes to antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY, v. 178, p. 545-550, JAN 2018. (16/05345-4, 14/24581-5, 15/21110-4)

JULIANA FERREIRA DE SOUSA; RODOLFO BORTOLOZO SERAFIM; LAURA MARISE DE FREITAS; CARLA RAQUEL FONTANA; VALERIA VALENTE. DNA repair genes in astrocytoma tumorigenesis, progression and therapy resistance. GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, v. 43, n. 1, 2019-12-13. (14/24581-5, 16/05345-4, 18/05018-9, 13/13465-1, 13/08135-2)

DE SOUSA, JULIANA FERREIRA; SERAFIM, RODOLFO BORTOLOZO; DE FREITAS, LAURA MARISE; FONTANA, CARLA RAQUEL; VALENTE, VALERIA. DNA repair genes in astrocytoma tumorigenesis, progression and therapy resistance. GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, v. 43, n. 1, 1, 2020. (16/05345-4, 13/13465-1, 14/24581-5, 18/05018-9, 13/08135-2)

LOPERA, A. A.; VELASQUEZ, A. M. A.; CLEMENTINO, L. C.; ROBLEDO, S.; MONTOYA, A.; DE FREITAS, L. M.; BEZZON, V. D. N.; FONTANA, C. R.; GARCIA, C.; GRAMINHA, M. A. S.. Solution-combustion synthesis of doped TiO2 compounds and its potential antileishmanial activity mediated by photodynamic therapy. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY, v. 183, p. 64-74, JUN 2018. (17/03552-5, 16/05345-4, 16/19289-9, 14/24581-5, 13/08248-1)

FIORAMONTI CALIXTO, GIOVANA MARIA; BERNEGOSSI, JESSICA; DE FREITAS, LAURA MARISE; FONTANA, CARLA RAQUEL; CHORILLI, MARLUS. Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer: A Review. Molecules, v. 21, n. 3, MAR 2016. (13/01565-1, 14/24581-5)

DE FREITAS, LAURA MARISE; LORENZON, ESTEBAN NICOLAS; CILLI, EDUARDO MAFFUD; DE OLIVEIRA, KLEBER THIAGO; FONTANA, CARLA RAQUEL; MANG, THOMAS S.. Photodynamic and peptide-based strategy to inhibit Gram-positive bacterial biofilm formation. BIOFOULING, v. 35, n. 7, p. 742-757, AUG 9 2019. (18/23015-7, 14/24581-5, 16/18378-8)

SANTOS-FILHO, NORIVAL ALVES; DE FREITAS, LAURA MARISE; DOS SANTOS, CLAUDIA TAVARES; PICCOLI, JULIA PINTO; FONTANA, CARLA RAQUEL; FUSCO-ALMEIDA, ANA MARISA; CILLI, EDUARDO MAFFUD. Understanding the mechanism of action of peptide (p-BthTX-I)(2) derived from C-terminal region of phospholipase A2 (PLA(2))-like bothropstoxin-I on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Toxicon, v. 196, p. 12-pg., 2021-04-08. (14/24581-5, 13/07600-3, 14/05538-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FREITAS, Laura Marise de. Combination of photodynamic therapy with antimicrobial peptides: effects and mechanisms. 2018. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas. Araraquara Araraquara.