Effective Treatment of Cutaneous Mold Infections by Antimicrobial Blue Light That Is Potentiated by Quinine

Author(s)

Leanse, Leon G. ^{[1, 2]} ; dos Anjos, Carolina ^{[3, 1, 2]} ; Wang, Ying ^[4] ; Murray, Clinton K. ^[5] ; Hooper, David C. ^[6] ; Dai, Tianhong ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Harvard Med Sch, Wellman Ctr Photomed, Massachusetts Gen Hosp, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[2] Harvard Med Sch, Vaccine & Immunotherapy Ctr, Massachusetts Gen Hosp, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Internal Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Chinese Peoples Liberat Army Gen Hosp, Med Ctr 1, Dept Laser Med, Beijing - Peoples R China

^[5] Ist Area Med Lab, Aberdeen, MD - USA

^[6] Harvard Med Sch, Massachusetts Gen Hosp, Div Infect Dis, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Infectious Diseases; v. 224, n. 6, p. 1069-1076, SEP 15 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background. Cutaneous mold infections commonly result from an array of traumatic injuries that involve direct inoculation of contaminated soil into wounds. Here, we explored the use of antimicrobial blue light (aBL; 405 nm wavelength) and the combination of aBL with quinine hydrochloride (aBL + Q-HCL) for the treatment of cutaneous mold infections. Methods. Efficacy of aBL and aBL + Q-HCL in killing clinically important pathogenic molds (Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium oxyprorum) was investigated. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography identified and quantified endogenous porphyrins in the mold conidia. Finally, a mouse model of dermabrasion wound infected with a bioluminescent variant of A. fumigatus was developed to investigate the efficacy of aBL in treating cutaneous mold infections. Results. We demonstrated that mold conidia are tolerant to aBL, but Q-HCL enhances efficacy. Transmission electron microscopy revealed intracellular damage by aBL. aBL + Q-HCL resulted in intracellular and cell wall damage. Porphyrins were observed in all mold strains, with A. fumigatus having the highest concentration. aBL and aBL + Q-HCL effectively reduced the burden of A. fit migatus within an established dermabrasion infection and limited recurrence posttreatment. Conclusions. aBL and aBL + Q-HCL may offer a novel approach for the treatment of mold infections. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/10851-4 - SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITY OF BLUE LIGHT IN COMBINATION WITH CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC ANTIMICROBIAL AGAINST DRUG-RESISTANT PATHOGENS
• Grantee: Carolina dos Anjos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate