Recovering the susceptibility of antibiotic-resistant bacteria using photooxidative damage

Author(s)

Soares, Jennifer M. ; Yakovlev, Vladislav V. ; Blanco, Kate C. ; Bagnato, Vanderlei S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; v. 120, n. 39, p. 7-pg., 2023-09-26.

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant bacteria are one of the most serious threats to infection control. Few new antibiotics have been developed; however, the lack of an effective new mechanism of their action has worsened the situation. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) can break antimicrobial resistance, since it potentiates the effect of antibiotics, and induces oxidative stress in microorganisms through the interaction of light with a photosensitizer. This paper addresses the application of PDI for increasing bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics and helping in bacterial persistence and virulence. The effect of photodynamic action on resistant bacteria collected from patients and bacteria cells with induced resistance in the laboratory was investigated. Staphylococcus aureus resistance breakdown levels for each antibiotic (amoxicillin, erythromycin, and gentamicin) from the photodynamic effect (10 mu M curcumin, 10 J/cm(2)) and its maintenance in descendant microorganisms were demonstrated within five cycles after PDI application. PDI showed an innovative feature for modifying the degree of bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics according to dosages, thus reducing resistance and persistence of microorganisms from standard and clinical strains. We hypothesize a reduction in the degree of antimicrobial resistance through photooxidative action combats antibiotic failures. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/07276-1 - CEPOF - Optics and Photonic Research Center
• Grantee: Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 19/12694-3 - Treatment of pharyngotonsillitis with photodynamic action
• Grantee: Kate Cristina Blanco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 14/50857-8 - National Institute in Basic Optics and Applied to Life Sciences
• Grantee: Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants