The rapidly growing phenomenon of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the emergence of new threatening micro-organisms naturally encourages the development of new strategies to treat infections. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) offers a different approach to this fight against infections. The combination of the photosensitizer, the light and the oxygen produces reactive oxygen species that induces the destruction of the target cells. Compared to classical antimicrobials, aPDT has many advantages such as a low risk of not only developing photo-resistant species even after multiple treatments and but also inducing mutagenic effects. Further, aPDT’s broad-spectrum is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, fungi and parasitic protozoa as well as inactivate viruses. aPDT has also been found to kill microbial cells rapidly (in minutes), whereas antibiotics and antifungals can take days to work while allowing for selectivity against microorganisms vs host tissues. Lastly, it has been demonstrated that aPDT can be effective in biofilm infections that are resistant to antibiotics and, perhaps most importantly, it is inexpensive.
In these current times in which the fight against infectious diseases is the most pressing challenge of Health Care, focus on new approaches to manage pathogenic microorganisms and overcome the development of resistances is greatly needed. As such, the goal of this Research Topic is to summarize the latest advances on the clinical usefulness of aPDT in different types of infections including cutaneous and mucous with comparisons to conventional antimicrobials. Moreover, we aim to collect the latest research in the effect against bacteria, fungi, parasites and virus and also explore the possibility to use aPDT in the disinfection of water, surfaces or human fluids. aPDT has also been proven to be an efficient method for the inactivation of pathogens and thus we aim to address whether it can be used alone or in combination with specific antibiotics, allowing for the avoidance resistances.
Accordingly, in this Research Topic we hope to address the following themes:
• Antimicrobial PDT in odontology
• Antimicrobial PDT for leishmaniasis.
• Antimicrobial PDT in fungal diseases.
• Antimicrobial PDT for bacterial infections.
• Antimicrobial PDT for viral infections (including COVID-19)
• Combination of PDT with other therapies against infections.
• Antimicrobial PDT and biofilms.
• Antimicrobial PDT for chronic wounds.
• Inmunological effect of antimicrobial PDT.
• The effect of antimicrobial PDT on the microbiome.
MRH declares that they were supported by US NIH Grants R01AI050875 and R21AI121700. All other Topic Editors declare no conflicts of interest.
The rapidly growing phenomenon of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the emergence of new threatening micro-organisms naturally encourages the development of new strategies to treat infections. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) offers a different approach to this fight against infections. The combination of the photosensitizer, the light and the oxygen produces reactive oxygen species that induces the destruction of the target cells. Compared to classical antimicrobials, aPDT has many advantages such as a low risk of not only developing photo-resistant species even after multiple treatments and but also inducing mutagenic effects. Further, aPDT’s broad-spectrum is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, fungi and parasitic protozoa as well as inactivate viruses. aPDT has also been found to kill microbial cells rapidly (in minutes), whereas antibiotics and antifungals can take days to work while allowing for selectivity against microorganisms vs host tissues. Lastly, it has been demonstrated that aPDT can be effective in biofilm infections that are resistant to antibiotics and, perhaps most importantly, it is inexpensive.
In these current times in which the fight against infectious diseases is the most pressing challenge of Health Care, focus on new approaches to manage pathogenic microorganisms and overcome the development of resistances is greatly needed. As such, the goal of this Research Topic is to summarize the latest advances on the clinical usefulness of aPDT in different types of infections including cutaneous and mucous with comparisons to conventional antimicrobials. Moreover, we aim to collect the latest research in the effect against bacteria, fungi, parasites and virus and also explore the possibility to use aPDT in the disinfection of water, surfaces or human fluids. aPDT has also been proven to be an efficient method for the inactivation of pathogens and thus we aim to address whether it can be used alone or in combination with specific antibiotics, allowing for the avoidance resistances.
Accordingly, in this Research Topic we hope to address the following themes:
• Antimicrobial PDT in odontology
• Antimicrobial PDT for leishmaniasis.
• Antimicrobial PDT in fungal diseases.
• Antimicrobial PDT for bacterial infections.
• Antimicrobial PDT for viral infections (including COVID-19)
• Combination of PDT with other therapies against infections.
• Antimicrobial PDT and biofilms.
• Antimicrobial PDT for chronic wounds.
• Inmunological effect of antimicrobial PDT.
• The effect of antimicrobial PDT on the microbiome.
MRH declares that they were supported by US NIH Grants R01AI050875 and R21AI121700. All other Topic Editors declare no conflicts of interest.