In-vitro effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with methylene blue in two different genera of dermatophyte fungi
-
Teresita Spezzia-Mazzocco
,
Susana A. Torres-Hurtado
Abstract
Background and objectives:
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a technique that combines the photoactivation properties of an innocuous chromophore or photosensitizer (PS) and light, producing reactive oxygen molecules that trigger cell death processes. In this study the in-vitro application of aPDT to fight fungal infections was investigated using methylene blue (MB) as the PS.
Materials and methods:
The antimicrobial PDT process was carried out with MB and red laser light (λ=633 nm) to activate the PS. Testing was performed with suspensions of various species of dermatophyte fungi (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypseum), including a fungus, which to our knowledge, has not been previously studied using this dye (Trichophyton tonsurans). For T. tonsurans further optimization tests were carried out.
Results and discussion:
The fungicidal effect of MB-aPDT was evident. Microsporum strains were slightly more sensitivity to the treatment than Trichophyton strains. The response of T. tonsurans to aPDT was less than to the other fungi tested under the same conditions, or even with higher fluence. However, repetitive aPDT treatment with very low doses of light can achieve a good effectiveness with this strain effecting total growth inhibition. Light may even disturb fungi growth in some circumstances, especially in strain such as T. tonsurans.
Conclusion:
This study with Trichophyton and Microsporum strains showed that MB was an effective PS to inhibit fungal growth through aPDT, reaching a total inhibition in most of the fungi tested. It was found that repeated exposure with low-power light within the framework of aPDT treatment can achieve better results than a single exposure at higher power.
Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund und Zielsetzung:
Die antimikrobielle photodynamische Therapie (aPDT) ist eine Technik, die die Photoaktivierungseigenschaften eines unschädlichen Chromophors oder Photosensibilisators (PS) mit Licht kombiniert, so dass es zur Bildung reaktiver Sauerstoffmoleküle kommt, die schließlich zum Zelltod führende Prozesse antriggern. In der vorliegenden Studie wird die In-vitro-Anwendung der aPDT unter Verwendung von Methylenblau (MB) als PS zur Bekämpfung von Pilzinfektionen untersucht.
Materialien und Methoden:
Die aPDT erfolgte mittels MB und rotem Laserlicht (λ=633 nm) zur Aktivierung des PS. Die Tests wurden mit Suspensionen von verschiedenen Arten von Dermatophyten (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis und M. gypseum) durchgeführt, einschließlich eines Pilzes (T. tonsurans), der bislang noch nicht unter Verwendung von MB untersucht wurde. Für diesen wurden weitere Optimierungsversuche durchgeführt.
Ergebnisse und Diskussion:
Die fungizide Wirkung der aPDT mit MB als PS war evident, wobei die Microsporum-Stämme empfindlicher auf die Behandlung reagierten als die Trichophyton-Stämme. Der Dermatophyt vom Typ T. tonsurans war gegenüber der aPDT deutlich unempfindlicher als die anderen Stämme, sowohl unter den gleichen Versuchsbedingungen als auch beim Einsatz höherer Lichtdosen. Allerdings konnte mit einer wiederholten aPDT-Behandlung bei sehr niedriger Lichtdosis eine gute Wirksamkeit erreicht werden. In bestimmten Fällen kann Licht sogar das Pilzwachstum stören, wie beispielsweise beim T. tonsurans.
Schlussfolgerung:
Die vorgelegte Studie mit Trichophyton- und Microsporum-Stämmen hat gezeigt, dass MB ein wirksamer PS zur Hemmung des Pilzwachstums durch aPDT ist; in fast allen untersuchten Stämmen konnte das Wachstum vollständig gehemmt werden. Es zeigte sich außerdem, dass im Rahmen der aPDT-Behandlung mit einer wiederholten Exposition mit schwachem Licht bessere Ergebnisse erreicht werden können als mit einer einmaligen Exposition bei höherer Leistung.
Acknowledgments
We thank M. Alejandra Paula Espinosa Texis from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla for supplying all strains and CONACYT by the financial support (Scholarship # 210747).
Conflict of interest statement: The authors state no conflict of interest. All authors have read the journal’s Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement available at the journal’s website and hereby confirm that they comply with all its parts applicable to the present scientific work.
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©2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Light and lasers for vascular and skin diseases: From bench to clinic – An update
- Magazine section
- Snapshots
- Original contributions
- A study on the effects of 532 nm continuous laser combined with photodynamic therapy versus 595 nm pulsed dye laser on a chicken comb model of vascular malformation
- Calibration of a three-dimensional photodynamic therapy illumination system and its segmentation assessment for port-wine stains
- In-vitro effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with methylene blue in two different genera of dermatophyte fungi
- Low-level laser therapy enhances muscle regeneration through modulation of inflammatory markers
- Case reports
- Treatment of recalcitrant viral warts using a 577-nm wavelength high-power optically pumped semiconductor laser
- Can laser therapy be the answer for radiodermatitis in anal cancer patients? Two case reports
- Use of a 1318 nm Nd:YAG laser for the resection of limited forms of pulmonary tuberculosis
- Congress announcements
- Congresses 2016/2017
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Light and lasers for vascular and skin diseases: From bench to clinic – An update
- Magazine section
- Snapshots
- Original contributions
- A study on the effects of 532 nm continuous laser combined with photodynamic therapy versus 595 nm pulsed dye laser on a chicken comb model of vascular malformation
- Calibration of a three-dimensional photodynamic therapy illumination system and its segmentation assessment for port-wine stains
- In-vitro effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with methylene blue in two different genera of dermatophyte fungi
- Low-level laser therapy enhances muscle regeneration through modulation of inflammatory markers
- Case reports
- Treatment of recalcitrant viral warts using a 577-nm wavelength high-power optically pumped semiconductor laser
- Can laser therapy be the answer for radiodermatitis in anal cancer patients? Two case reports
- Use of a 1318 nm Nd:YAG laser for the resection of limited forms of pulmonary tuberculosis
- Congress announcements
- Congresses 2016/2017
