Control of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Using Photodynamic Therapy in Synergy with <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>: Role of Mixed Cultures in Developing Strategies to Inhibit Infections

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a Gram-positive bacterium living abundantly on our skin and mucous membranes. When there is an imbalance in microbiota, they are the main protagonists of various infections, such as soft tissue infections and bacteremia. However, <i>Staphylococcus ep...

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Main Authors: Rebeca Vieira de Lima, Kate Cristina Blanco, Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1196
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author Rebeca Vieira de Lima
Kate Cristina Blanco
Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
author_facet Rebeca Vieira de Lima
Kate Cristina Blanco
Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
author_sort Rebeca Vieira de Lima
collection DOAJ
description <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a Gram-positive bacterium living abundantly on our skin and mucous membranes. When there is an imbalance in microbiota, they are the main protagonists of various infections, such as soft tissue infections and bacteremia. However, <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> also colonizes this microbiome, is able to compete with pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA), and can contribute to treatments such as photodynamic inactivation (PDI) by inhibiting infection progression and restoring a healthy microbiota. In vitro photodynamic inactivation experiments were carried out using synthetic curcumin at a concentration of 5 μM as a photosensitizer and varying light doses (1, 2 and 5 J/cm<sup>2</sup>) at a wavelength of 450 nm, on pure cultures (<i>S. aureus</i>, <i>S. epidermidis</i> and MRSA) and mixed cultures, in which bacteria were placed together proportionally. This study revealed that pure cultures of these bacteria obtained statistically significant results with varying light doses of 2 and 5 J/cm<sup>2</sup>. In addition, in an attempt to bring infections closer to reality, experiments were carried out on mixed cultures. The results were not only significant but also increased reduction of bacteria, including resistant bacteria. Study offers new perspectives on the importance of themicrobiota for treatment of infections caused by the <i>Staphylococcus</i> genus.
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spelling doaj-art-e607ef699fe142ed94169195c1d14efa2025-08-20T03:16:19ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-05-01136119610.3390/microorganisms13061196Control of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Using Photodynamic Therapy in Synergy with <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>: Role of Mixed Cultures in Developing Strategies to Inhibit InfectionsRebeca Vieira de Lima0Kate Cristina Blanco1Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato2Biotechnology Postgraduate Program (PPG Biotec), Federal Univesity of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, SP, BrazilSão Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC), University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13566-590, SP, BrazilSão Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC), University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13566-590, SP, Brazil<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a Gram-positive bacterium living abundantly on our skin and mucous membranes. When there is an imbalance in microbiota, they are the main protagonists of various infections, such as soft tissue infections and bacteremia. However, <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> also colonizes this microbiome, is able to compete with pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA), and can contribute to treatments such as photodynamic inactivation (PDI) by inhibiting infection progression and restoring a healthy microbiota. In vitro photodynamic inactivation experiments were carried out using synthetic curcumin at a concentration of 5 μM as a photosensitizer and varying light doses (1, 2 and 5 J/cm<sup>2</sup>) at a wavelength of 450 nm, on pure cultures (<i>S. aureus</i>, <i>S. epidermidis</i> and MRSA) and mixed cultures, in which bacteria were placed together proportionally. This study revealed that pure cultures of these bacteria obtained statistically significant results with varying light doses of 2 and 5 J/cm<sup>2</sup>. In addition, in an attempt to bring infections closer to reality, experiments were carried out on mixed cultures. The results were not only significant but also increased reduction of bacteria, including resistant bacteria. Study offers new perspectives on the importance of themicrobiota for treatment of infections caused by the <i>Staphylococcus</i> genus.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1196microbiotaphotodynamic inactivationbacterial resistanceinfections<i>Staphylococcus</i>
spellingShingle Rebeca Vieira de Lima
Kate Cristina Blanco
Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
Control of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Using Photodynamic Therapy in Synergy with <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>: Role of Mixed Cultures in Developing Strategies to Inhibit Infections
Microorganisms
microbiota
photodynamic inactivation
bacterial resistance
infections
<i>Staphylococcus</i>
title Control of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Using Photodynamic Therapy in Synergy with <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>: Role of Mixed Cultures in Developing Strategies to Inhibit Infections
title_full Control of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Using Photodynamic Therapy in Synergy with <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>: Role of Mixed Cultures in Developing Strategies to Inhibit Infections
title_fullStr Control of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Using Photodynamic Therapy in Synergy with <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>: Role of Mixed Cultures in Developing Strategies to Inhibit Infections
title_full_unstemmed Control of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Using Photodynamic Therapy in Synergy with <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>: Role of Mixed Cultures in Developing Strategies to Inhibit Infections
title_short Control of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Using Photodynamic Therapy in Synergy with <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>: Role of Mixed Cultures in Developing Strategies to Inhibit Infections
title_sort control of methicillin resistant i staphylococcus aureus i using photodynamic therapy in synergy with i staphylococcus epidermidis i role of mixed cultures in developing strategies to inhibit infections
topic microbiota
photodynamic inactivation
bacterial resistance
infections
<i>Staphylococcus</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1196
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