We are mainly interested to develop novel photochemotherapeutic systems for model infectious diseases Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy research has increased in the last 20 years because of concerns resulting from the ever-increasing occurrence of multi antibiotic-resistance. Microbial cells, treated with non-toxic photosensitizers (PS) ere successfully killed by harmless visible light. There is no reported evidence that bacteria or yeasts have acquired resistance to photodynamic destruction. In parallel, efflux mechanisms have become broadly recognized as major components of resistance to many classes of antibiotics.
Some efflux pumps selectively extrude specific antibiotics while others, referred to as multidrug resistance pumps (MDRs) expel a variety of structurally diverse compounds with differing modes of action. Discovery of MDR inhibitors has been proposed as an approach to enhance efficiency of various antimicrobials, especially those who are designated substrates of MDRs. We have recently discovered that phenothiazinium PS are substrates for MDRs in Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and possibly Candida albicans . We are currently studying the potential use of phenothiaziniums in combination with MDR inhibitors as novel strategies for the treatment of microbial biofilms.
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