Oral bacteria in multi‐species biofilms can be killed by red light in the presence of toluidine blue

Oral bacteria can be killed by light in the presence of a suitable photosensitizer, and this could be used in the treatment of oral infections. In these diseases, however, bacteria are present as biofilms, which are refractive to antimicrobial agents. The purpose of this study was to determine whether oral bacterial biofilms were susceptible to lethal photosensitization.

[1]  M. Wilson Photolysis of oral bacteria and its potential use in the treatment of caries and periodontal disease. , 1993, The Journal of applied bacteriology.

[2]  J Griffiths,et al.  An in vitro study of the use of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of natural oral plaque biofilms formed in vivo. , 1999, Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology.

[3]  M. Wilson,et al.  Susceptibility of oral bacterial biofilms to antimicrobial agents. , 1996, Journal of medical microbiology.

[4]  J. Costerton,et al.  Bacterial biofilms: a common cause of persistent infections. , 1999, Science.

[5]  M Wilson,et al.  Bacterial Biofilms and Human Disease , 2001, Science progress.

[6]  C. Rovaldi,et al.  Photoactive Porphyrin Derivative with Broad-Spectrum Activity against Oral Pathogens In Vitro , 2000, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

[7]  E. Reich,et al.  A pilot study of confocal laser scanning microscopy for the assessment of undisturbed dental plaque vitality and topography. , 1998, Archives of oral biology.

[8]  J Hanania,et al.  New trends in photobiology (Invited review) bactericidal effects of photoactivated porphyrins ― An alternative approach to antimicrobial drugs , 1990 .

[9]  J. Pratten,et al.  Killing of Streptococcus sanguis in biofilms using a light-activated antimicrobial agent. , 1996, The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy.

[10]  K. Lewis,et al.  Riddle of Biofilm Resistance , 2001, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

[11]  J. Costerton,et al.  Establishment of aging biofilms: possible mechanism of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial therapy , 1992, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

[12]  G. O’Toole,et al.  Mechanisms of biofilm resistance to antimicrobial agents. , 2001, Trends in microbiology.

[13]  Tayyaba Hasan,et al.  Targeted Antimicrobial Photochemotherapy , 1998, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.