A New Light for Disinfection

World Health Organization declared antimicrobial resistance is one of top 10 global public health threat. Without effective treatments, success of modern medicine will be at risk.

Nearly one million people die each year due to drug-resistant diseases, In the US, 2.8MM antibiotic-resistant infections occur with more the 35,000 people not surviving. 

A new photobleaching target expressed in most types of bacteria. Catalase, an antioxidant protein responsible for protecting the cell from oxidative can be significantly deactivated when exposed to 410-460nm light. 

Catalase is responsible for neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Since immune cells like macrophages and neutrophils produce ROS to kill the bacteria, the presence of catalase provides bacteria with the ability to survive ROS heavy environments, allowing for the sustained presence of bacteria in wound environments and leading to continued infection. 

By utilizing 410-460 nm light to deactivate catalase present in bacteria, it not only reduces the ability for catalase positive bacteria to survive within a neutrophil or macrophage environment, but it also improves the activity of ROS producing antimicrobials, such as hydrogen peroxide, silver, or certain ROS producing antibiotics.

Catalase Structure
Catalase Structure