title: Sensitization of oral bacteria in biofilms to killing by light from a low-power laser.
abstract: Biofilms of Streptococcus sanguis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans were prepared on the surfaces of agar plates and a number of compounds were screened for their ability to sensitize bacteria in these biofilms to killing by light from a 7.3 mW Helium/Neon (He/Ne) laser. Toluidine blue O and methylene blue enabled detectable killing of all four target organisms after exposure to He/Ne light for 30 s. Aluminium disulphonated phthalocyanine, haematoporphyrin HCl and haematoporphyrin ester were effective photosensitizers of only some of the target organisms. These findings suggest that lethal photosensitization may be an effective means of eliminating periodontopathogenic bacteria from dental plaque.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Dental Surgery, London, U.K.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D000535:Aluminum / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003741:Dental Deposits / Q000382:microbiology; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005840:Gentian Violet / Q000494:pharmacology; D006371:Helium; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D009356:Neon; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014048:Tolonium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D007211:Indoles; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D006371:Helium; D009356:Neon; C065730:Basic Blue 99; C064331:aluminum phthalocyanine disulfonate; D000535:Aluminum; D005840:Gentian Violet; D008751:Methylene Blue