Publications by authors named "Kate Blanco"
Antibiotics remain the most effective option for combating infections. However, the situation has shifted from ideal to concerning, as bacterial resistance to antibiotics is increasing in both prevalence and strength. : This study explores the synergistic/antagonistic potential of combining antibiotic and photodynamic therapy (PDT) against .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFungal infections related to biofilm formation on medical devices, such as endotracheal tubes (ETTs), pose significant health risks, especially during intubation procedures where fungi like Candida spp. can migrate into the lower respiratory tract. This study explores the use of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) to prevent fungal cell migration from ETT surfaces to lungs, focusing on the role of curcumin as a photosensitizer.
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- Antimicrobial resistance poses a major global health risk, necessitating new methods for control, with photodynamic inactivation (PDI) using light-activated substances showing promise in targeting resistant bacteria.
- This study specifically tests PDI's effects on Staphylococcus aureus strains that are resistant to multiple antibiotics, analyzing changes in bacterial population heterogeneity and shape.
- Results indicate that PDI reduces the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibiotics and lowers the diversity of resistant bacterial populations, suggesting PDI's potential as a supplementary treatment in combating antibiotic resistance.
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- Recent studies emphasize the role of machine learning algorithms in identifying antibiotic resistance in microorganisms, demonstrating their potential in research.
- The study presents a methodology that analyzes FTIR spectral profiles of different bacterial species, focusing on biomolecules like Carbohydrates, Fatty Acids, and Proteins, which can reliably identify resistance patterns across both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
- Findings suggest that this machine learning-based approach offers a versatile and precise tool for rapid identification of antimicrobial resistance, which is essential for improving treatment strategies and combating the spread of resistant infections.
Background: Pharyngotonsillitis (PT) is an inflammatory and infectious condition affecting the tonsils in the oropharynx, predominantly caused by a variety of viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens, including Streptococcus pyogenes. With the increasing challenge of antibiotic resistance, alternative therapeutic approaches are needed.
Methods: This study explores the effectiveness and safety of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) as a therapeutic approach for managing acute PT.
Curcumin serves as a photosensitizer (PS) in the context of microbial inactivation when subjected to light exposure, to produce reactive oxygen species, which exhibit efficacy in eradicating microorganisms. This remarkable property underscores the growing potential of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the ongoing fight against bacterial infections. Considering this, we investigate the efficacy of various in vitro curcumin formulations within a PDT protocol designed to target Staphylococcus aureus.
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- * Microplastics (MPs), such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microparticles, are prevalent contaminants in water and can influence the efficacy of photodynamic inactivation (PDI) treatments.
- * The study shows that while PVC microparticles do not prevent the formation of reactive oxygen species, their concentration can affect the ability to inactivate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using curcumin as a photosensitizer under blue light.
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- Plant microorganisms can benefit or harm plants; they produce natural antibiotics but can also spread diseases and compete for nutrients, especially in hydroponic systems.
- The study investigates the use of UV-C light for decontamination in hydroponic solutions, focusing on its effects on lettuce growth and nutritional quality.
- Results indicate that using UV-C in nutrient-rich water speeds up lettuce growth and maintains or improves nutritional content compared to controls, suggesting its potential for enhancing vegetable production.
Recovering the susceptibility of antibiotic-resistant bacteria using photooxidative damage.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
September 2023
Multidrug-resistant bacteria are one of the most serious threats to infection control. Few new antibiotics have been developed; however, the lack of an effective new mechanism of their action has worsened the situation. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) can break antimicrobial resistance, since it potentiates the effect of antibiotics, and induces oxidative stress in microorganisms through the interaction of light with a photosensitizer.
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- Transparent Conductive Oxides (TCOs), like SnO, are effective sensors for hazardous gases due to the abundance of tin, enabling the production of moldable nanobelts.
- The study focuses on creating a self-assembled SnO gas sensor, eliminating complex fabrication processes, using a vapor-solid-liquid growth method with gold as a catalyst.
- Testing demonstrated that the sensor effectively detects CO and CO gases at different temperatures, with performance enhanced by incorporating palladium nanoparticles, indicating its potential for monitoring air quality related to human health.
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- Antibiotic resistance poses a serious global health issue, prompting research into methods to make bacteria more susceptible to existing antibiotics.
- This study investigates the use of photodynamic inactivation with curcumin and its effects when combined with antibiotics like amoxicillin, erythromycin, and gentamicin, utilizing advanced imaging techniques to analyze interactions.
- Findings indicate that this combined approach can significantly enhance antibiotic effectiveness, showing up to 32-fold reductions in resistance and marking a potential strategy to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
Background: Outbreaks related to food contamination by resistant microorganisms is a worldwide concern that, motivates industries and research institutions to search for affordable solutions. Among the solutions that have been proposed, Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) of microorganisms has gained prominence, among other aspects, because it is easy to apply and does not generate microbial resistance.
Methods: In this study, we used the association between curcumin solubilized with Tween and light in the photodynamic inactivation process, using light-emitting diodes with a wavelength of 430 nm for decontamination S.
The widespread use of antibiotics drives the evolution of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB), threatening patients and healthcare professionals. Therefore, the development of novel strategies to combat resistance is recognized as a global healthcare priority. The two methods to combat ARB are development of new antibiotics or reduction in existing resistances.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe emergence of new microorganisms with resistance to current antimicrobials is one of the key issues of modern healthcare that must be urgently addressed with the development of new molecules and therapies. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) in combination with antibiotics has been recently regarded as a promising wide-spectrum therapy for the treatment of localized topical infections. However, further studies are required regarding the selection of the best photosensitizer structures and protocol optimization, in order to maximize the efficiency of this synergic interaction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhotodynamic therapy of adenoid hypertrophy in acute rhinosinusitis.
Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther
September 2022
Article Synopsis
- Microorganisms first colonize the nasopharynx before causing respiratory infections, with humans inhaling significant bacterial loads daily, leading to high treatment costs for lung infections in the U.S.
- Curcumin is highlighted as an effective photosensitizer for combating bacteria and biofilms, particularly in the upper respiratory tract where it may help treat conditions like adenoids.
- The study aims to optimize photodynamic therapy (PDT) for rhinosinusitis by simulating bacterial coinfection in vitro and evaluating clinical outcomes using nasal lighting, showing potential for clinical application in treatment.
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- Onychomycosis, a common fungal nail infection typically caused by dermatophytes, is challenging to treat due to its resistance to antifungal medications.
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is being explored as a new treatment method, focusing on optimizing factors like photosensitizer concentration and light dose to effectively inactivate the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
- In the study, curcumin derivatives and porphyrins were tested, revealing that specific low concentrations of curcumin and chlorin had the highest antifungal activity under particular lighting conditions.
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- * Researchers created films containing pectin, glycerin, and different substances to treat biofilms formed on catheters, exposing them to LED light at 450 nm and 630 nm for varying durations.
- * Results showed that curcuminoid films effectively eliminated S. aureus biofilms, while Photogem films worked best on E. coli; both treatments displayed similar light penetration effects in thicker biofilms.
Dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever are arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito. In this regard, a number of techniques have emerged aiming to combat its proliferation. Elimination of Aedes aegypti larvae by photodynamic action has been reported as an efficient approach.
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- HIV/AIDS leads to changes in the immune system, causing increased systemic and local infections, particularly in the mouth, due to an altered oral microbiota and the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens.
- Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) using a 660-nm red LED and porphyrin shows promise in treating these oral infections in AIDS patients, offering a potential alternative to conventional treatments.
- A study found that aPDT effectively reduced oral enterobacteria and Streptococcus spp., as well as the overall microbial count, correlating with improvements in immune markers like TCD4 and TCD8 lymphocytes.
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- Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are rapidly increasing globally, raising urgent health concerns exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, necessitating effective infection control methods.
- Photodynamic therapy, which uses light to combat microorganisms and viruses, is gaining traction as a promising tool for treating infections, especially respiratory ones, and for decontaminating fluids.
- This review explores various studies on photodynamic action in viral control, outlining its potential benefits and encouraging its development for safe clinical use in responding to health threats efficiently.
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- - A pressure ulcer (PU) is a serious issue for immobilized hospital patients, particularly those with neurological problems, affecting their quality of life and healthcare costs.
- - This study followed three patients with trauma-related neurological lesions who developed PUs and were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT), low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and cellulose membrane (CM) over 45 weeks.
- - Results showed significant reduction in PU size (95.2-100%) within 45 weeks, with some complete healing observed at 20 and 30 weeks, suggesting that the combination of these therapies is effective for healing PUs.
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- Healthcare-associated pathogens are transmitted in hospitals, particularly through surfaces contaminated by infected patients, making effective disinfection crucial.
- A study compared the effectiveness of traditional cleaning methods (70% alcohol) with UV-C irradiation for disinfecting tools used in physiotherapy in the ICU, involving 21 patients and analyzing microbial reduction on an elastic band.
- The findings revealed that both methods reduced microbes, but UV-C irradiation demonstrated superior disinfection efficiency, suggesting it could be a viable option for physiotherapy equipment in critical care settings.
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- * Results showed a delay in larval development, altered sex ratios, and decreased lifespan when exposed to DMC; it also achieved 71.3% mortality in wild populations during field trials.
- * The findings highlight DMC’s potential as a new, plant-based larvicide for controlling Ae. aegypti larvae, despite its lower residual activity compared to conventional larvicides.
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- Hospital-acquired infections, particularly ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), pose significant challenges in intensive care units, leading to high mortality rates and increased healthcare costs.
- The endotracheal tube (ETT) is vital for assisted breathing but can harbor bacterial biofilms and multidrug-resistant bacteria, contributing to VAP.
- A new approach involves creating ETTs functionalized with curcumin, a photosensitizer, which can effectively reduce bacterial levels by up to 95% through photodynamic inactivation, offering a promising solution to tackle hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance.