Pulsethera, Inc.

Purdue Research Foundation

Jie Hui

Ji-Xin Cheng

Pu-Ting Dong

Yifan Zhu

Mohamed Seleem

Methods of the present invention comprise photoinactivation of catalase in combination with low-concentration peroxide solutions and/or ROS generating agents to provide antibacterial effects.

Bactericidal methods and compositions

Methicillin-resistant(MRSA) possesses array of strategies to evade antibiotics through mutational inactivation, hiding inside host immune cells or concealing inside the biofilm in a sessile form. We report a drug-free approach to eradicate MRSA through blue-light bleaching of staphyloxanthin (STX), an anti-oxidative carotenoid residing inside the cell membrane of. The photobleaching process, uncovered through a transient absorption imaging study and quantitated by mass spectrometry, decomposes STX and sensitizes MRSA to reactive oxygen species attack. Consequently, photobleaching using low-level blue light exhibits high-level synergy when combined with low-concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Antimicrobial effectiveness of this synergistic therapy is validated in MRSA culture, MRSA-infected macrophage cells, biofilm, and a mouse wound infection model. Collectively, these findings highlight broad applications of STX photobleaching for MRSA-infected diseases.

Growing community of inventors

Boston, MA, United States of America

Jie Hui