Antimicrobial PDT for localized infections
We have developed several mouse models of infections using pathogenic bacteria transfected with the gene complex coding for luciferase and its substrates and a sensitive photon-counting camera to image the light emitted from the animals in real time to follow the progress of the infection. These now comprise:
Excisional wounds,
Soft tissue infections in neutropenic and immunocompetant mice
Chronic abscesses,
Burns
Bladder infections.
Topical or interstitial administration of photosensitizers, followed by illumination eradicates the infection, and in the case of pathogenic strains, save the lives of the mice which would otherwise die of systemic sepsis. The treatment does not damage host tissue as shown by the wound healing response being as good as or better than control wounds treated by alternative antimicrobial therapies. PDT may be applied to many stubborn clinical infections not easily treated with antibiotics.
Hamblin MR, O’Donnell DA, Murthy N, Contag CH, Hasan T. Rapid control of wound infections by targeted photodynamic therapy monitored by In-vivo bioluminescence imaging. Photochem Photobiol 2002;75(1):51-7
Hamblin MR, Zahra T, Contag CH, McManus AT, Hasan T. Optical monitoring and treatment of potentially lethal wound infections In-vivo . J Infect Dis 2003;187(11):1717-25.
Gad F, Zahra T, Francis KP, Hasan T, Hamblin MR. Targeted photodynamic therapy of established soft-tissue infections in mice. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2004; 3: 451-8
Hamblin MR, Hasan T. Photodynamic therapy: a new antimicrobial approach to infectious disease? Photochem Photobiol Sci 2004; 3(5): 436-50
Demidova TN, Gad F, Zahra T, Francis KP, Hamblin MR. Monitoring photodynamic therapy of localized infections by bioluminescence imaging of genetically engineered bacteria. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2005; 81:15-25
Lambrechts SA, Demidova TN, Aalders MC, Hasan T, Hamblin MR. Photodynamic therapy for Staphylococcus aureus infected burn wounds in mice. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2005; 4: 503 - 509
