Effective Treatment of Cutaneous Mold Infections by Antimicrobial Blue Light That Is Potentiated by Quinine. (2nd February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leanse, Leon G; dos Anjos, Carolina; Wang, Ying; Murray, Clinton K; Hooper, David C; Dai, Tianhong
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 224:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 1069
• Page End: 1076
• Publication Date: 2021-02-02
• Subjects: mold infection -- Aspergillus fumigatus -- antimicrobial blue light -- quinine -- wound infection; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Cutaneous mold infections commonly result from an array of traumatic injuries that involve direct inoculation of contaminated soil into wounds. Here, we explored the use of antimicrobial blue light (aBL; 405 nm wavelength) and the combination of aBL with quinine hydrochloride (aBL + Q-HCL) for the treatment of cutaneous mold infections. Methods: Efficacy of aBL and aBL + Q-HCL in killing clinically important pathogenic molds ( Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium oxyprorum ) was investigated. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography identified and quantified endogenous porphyrins in the mold conidia. Finally, a mouse model of dermabrasion wound infected with a bioluminescent variant of A . fumigatus was developed to investigate the efficacy of aBL in treating cutaneous mold infections. Results: We demonstrated that mold conidia are tolerant to aBL, but Q-HCL enhances efficacy. Transmission electron microscopy revealed intracellular damage by aBL. aBL + Q-HCL resulted in intracellular and cell wall damage. Porphyrins were observed in all mold strains, with A. fumigatus having the highest concentration. aBL and aBL + Q-HCL effectively reduced the burden of A. fumigatus within an established dermabrasion infection and limited recurrence posttreatment. Conclusions: aBL and aBL + Q-HCL may offer a novel approach for the treatment of mold infections. Abstract : Cutaneous mold infections are difficult to treat infections that arise from traumatic injury. We found that antimicrobial blue light effectively reduced the burden of Aspergillus fumigatus within a wound. These effects were significantly improved with the addition of quinine hydrochloride.