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Updated: Nov 3, 2025
The Synergistic Effect of Visible Light and Gentamycin on Pseudomona aeruginosa Microorganisms
Published on: July 2, 2013
Can microorganisms develop resistance against light based anti-infective agents?
Sanjay Marasini1, Leon G Leanse2, Tianhong Dai2
1Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Recently, there have been increasing numbers of publications illustrating the potential of light-based antimicrobial therapies to combat antimicrobial resistance. Several modalities, in particular, which have proven antimicrobial efficacy against a wide range of pathogenic microbes include: photodynamic therapy (PDT), ultraviolet light (UVA, UVB and UVC), and antimicrobial blue light (aBL). Using these techniques, microbial cells can be inactivated rapidly, either by inducing reactive oxygen species that are deleterious to the microbial cells (PDT, aBL and UVA) or by causing irreversible DNA damage via direct absorption (UVB and UVC). Given the multi-targeted nature of light-based antimicrobial modalities, it has been hypothesised that resistance development to these approaches is highly unlikely. Furthermore, with the exception of a small number of studies, it has been found that resistance to light based anti-infective agents appears unlikely, irrespective of the modality in question. The concurrent literature however stipulates, that further studies should incorporate standardised microbial tolerance assessments for light-based therapies to better assess the reproducibility of these observations.
Insights
Light-based antimicrobial therapies like photodynamic therapy and antimicrobial blue light show promise against drug-resistant microbes. Studies suggest resistance to these light treatments is unlikely, but standardized testing is needed.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health threat.
- Light-based therapies offer novel strategies to inactivate pathogenic microbes.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT), ultraviolet (UV) light, and antimicrobial blue light (aBL) are key modalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of light-based antimicrobial therapies in combating antimicrobial resistance.
- To explore the mechanisms of microbial inactivation by different light modalities.
- To assess the likelihood of resistance development to these light-based approaches.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent publications on light-based antimicrobial therapies.
- Analysis of mechanisms including reactive oxygen species generation (PDT, aBL, UVA) and direct DNA damage (UVB, UVC).
- Evaluation of reported microbial resistance to various light modalities.
Main Results:
- PDT, UVA, UVB, UVC, and aBL demonstrate antimicrobial efficacy against diverse pathogens.
- Microbial inactivation is achieved through ROS induction or direct DNA absorption.
- Evidence suggests a low likelihood of resistance development to these multi-targeted light therapies.
Conclusions:
- Light-based antimicrobial strategies are promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics.
- The multi-targeted nature of these therapies likely hinders resistance development.
- Standardized microbial tolerance assessments are recommended to confirm reproducibility and efficacy.
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