Tag Archives: antimicrobial

Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – November 2023

November 14, 2023 by Modulight Content
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 Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – November 2023 The development of modern antibiotics is recognized as one of the major achievements of medicine and has saved millions of lives. However, many infectious agents have developed resistance to antibiotics over time, and defining new antibiotic targets has been difficult since very few genes are essential for pathogens. To combat this growing problem, Professor Timothy Haystead’s team at Duke University developed a novel light-based antimicrobial strategy that targets non-essential enzyme on the surface of bacteria. Light activation was Continue reading →

Targeting Borrelia burgdorferi HtpG with a berserker molecule, a strategy for anti-microbial development

November 1, 2023 by Modulight Content
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Published in: Cell Chemical Biology Authors: Dave L. Carlson, Mark Kowalewski, Khaldon Bodoor, Matthew R. Redinbo, Neil Spector, Timothy A.J. Haystead Duke UniversityPublished in: Cell Chemical Biology Authors: Dave L. Carlson, Mark Kowalewski, Khaldon Bodoor, Matthew R. Redinbo, Neil Spector, Timothy A.J. Haystead Duke University Conventional antimicrobial discovery relies on targeting essential enzymes in pathogenic organisms, contributing to a paucity of new antibiotics to address resistant strains. Here, by targeting a non-essential enzyme, Borrelia burgdorferi HtpG, to deliver lethal payloads, we expand what can be considered druggable within any pathogen. We synthesized HS-291, an HtpG inhibitor tethered to the photoactive toxin verteporfin. Reactive oxygen species, generated by light, enables Continue reading →

Photoimmunotechnology as a powerful biological tool for molecular-based elimination of target cells and microbes, including bacteria, fungi and viruses

October 4, 2023 by Modulight Content
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Published in: Nature Protocols Authors: Tadayuki Iwase, Kimihiro Ito, Takashi Nishimura, Kei Miyakawa, Akihide Ryo, Hisataka Kobayashi, Makoto Mitsunaga The Jikei University School of Medicine  Published in: Nature Protocols Authors: Tadayuki Iwase, Kimihiro Ito, Takashi Nishimura, Kei Miyakawa, Akihide Ryo, Hisataka Kobayashi, Makoto Mitsunaga The Jikei University School of Medicine Microbial pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, can develop resistance to clinically used drugs; therefore, finding new therapeutic agents is an ongoing challenge. Recently, we reported the photoimmuno-antimicrobial strategy (PIAS), a type of photoimmunotechnology, that enables molecularly targeted elimination of a wide range of microbes, including the viral pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and the multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogen Continue reading →

Photodynamic Therapy of an Abdominal Abscess at the Time of Percutaneous Drainage

July 18, 2023 by Modulight Content
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Published in: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Authors: Timothy M. Baran, Ashwani Kumar Sharma    Published in: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Authors: Timothy M. Baran, Ashwani Kumar Sharma   This article presents a successful case study from an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial where methylene blue together with ML7710 is used to eradicate bacteria and biofilm in the treatment of persistent abscesses. The potential of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is explored as an adjunct treatment for recurrent or challenging-to-manage abdominal abscesses during percutaneous drainage procedures. Despite advancements in abscess drainage techniques and antibiotics, some cases exhibit low response rates and recurrences, Continue reading →

Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – July 2022

July 11, 2022 by Modulight Content
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 Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – July 2022 Modulight congratulates Dr. Makoto Mitsunaga et al. Jikei University School of Medicine for publishing their promising results in Communications Biology journal. The team developed a next-generation light-based approach to tackle pathogens, called photoimmuno-antimicrobial strategy (PIAS). This technology was shown to eliminate a broad spectrum of different classes of pathogens, such as viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Unlike antibiotics, PIAS was also effective against drug-resistant pathogens and didn’t damage natural, beneficial microbiota in the host’s tissues. As COVID-19 pandemic and Continue reading →

Optimizing photosensitizer administration for cancer therapy

December 11, 2021 by Modulight Content
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  Motivation While Photofrin PDT is an approved oncological therapy for multiple indications, its wider use is hindered by prolonged skin photosensitivity lasting several weeks. The aim of this study is to investigate intratumoral Photofrin administration as a way to decrease skin photosensitivity compared to the standard IV injection protocol. Tumor necrosis after PDT was assessed with immunohistochemical staining and Photofrin distributions by fluorescence microscopy.       Results   Anti-tumor efficacy was similar between intratumoral and IV administration; however, smaller doses of Photofrin were Continue reading →Customer case University of Rochester belongs among the nation’s top research universities. Research at the Baran lab focuses on anti-microbial PDT and optical image processing. The aim is to develop methods for utilizing quantitative information from CT, MR and PET imaging for PDT treatment planning as well as in the search of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Modulight products: ML7710 (630 & 665 nm) Link to the study: Timothy M. Baran (Ph.D., PI) Laser use: Ongoing clinical Phase 1 safety & feasibility study for methylene Continue reading →

Antimicrobial PDT for prosthetic joint infections

August 21, 2021 by Modulight Content
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Motivation for the study Periprosthetic joint infections after hip and knee replacement surgeries are associated with high patient morbidity and a large financial cost. Challenging two-stage revision surgeries are required with long antibiotics regimes that can have limited efficacy and cannot eradicate drug-resistant strains like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). This study aims to investigate the potential of photodynamic therapy with methylene blue to eradicate problematic bacteria associated with joint infections.   Results Photos from the original publication. Reproduced under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Continue reading →Customer case Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at UCL, Stanmore in London, UK is an internationally leading Centre of Excellence and tertiary referral centre for complex orthopedic conditions. Close collaboration between clinicians and engineers facilitates high-quality research into orthopedic implant fixation and bone regeneration. The focus is on translational themes that include biomaterials, stem cells, the design and follow-up of implants, bone graft substitute materials and implant infections. PDT has been studied as an alternative to antibiotics to more effectively tackle infections following hip & knee Continue reading →

Novel antimicrobial phototherapy against emerging infectious diseases

June 12, 2021 by Modulight Content
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      Results PIAS-treated pathogens were effectively eradicated upon NIR illumination. The efficacy of PIAS was dependent on the NIR light dose, 50 J/cm2 eradicating all MRSA from the rat nasal tract (Figure 1). PIAS also saved all mice from fatal MRSA infections, similar to VCM+RFP antibiotics and even more effectively than VCM antibiotics alone (Figure 2). Unlike the antibiotics, PIAS acted selectively on the target pathogen and did not affect host’s normal intestinal microflora (Figure 3). Also generation of microbial resistance, common problem Continue reading →Customer case Research by: The Jikei University School of Medicine located in Tokyo, Japan and founded in 1881 is today one of the three major private medical schools in Japan. This cutting-edge study was done in close collaboration with Professor Hisataka Kobayashi’s Laboratory of Molecular Theranostics at National Cancer Institute. Modulight products: ML6500 (689 nm, 3 W)   Dr. Makoto Mitsunaga, M.D., PhD   Dr. Tadayuki Iwase, PhD   Dr. Hisataka Kobayashi, M.D., PhD Laser use: Photoimmunotherapy and photochemotherapy of cancer (pancreatic, breast, gastric) and infectious Continue reading →