title: Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) for the treatment of malaria, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis.
abstract: A photodynamic effect occurs when photosensitiser molecules absorb light and dissipate the absorbed energy by transferring it to biological acceptors (usually oxygen), generating an excess of reactive species that are able to force cells into death pathways. Several tropical diseases present physiopathological aspects that are accessible to the application of a photosensitiser and local illumination. In addition, disease may be transmitted through infected blood donations, and many of the aetiological agents associated with tropical diseases have been shown to be susceptible to the photodynamic approach. However, there has been no systematic investigation of the application of photoantimicrobial agents in the various presentations, whether to human disease or to the disinfection of blood products or even as photo-insecticides. We aim in this review to report the advances in the photoantimicrobial approach that are beneficial to the field of anti-parasite therapy and also have the potential to facilitate the development of low-cost/high-efficiency protocols for underserved populations.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil. baptista@iq.usp.br
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wainwright
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods; D007303:Insect Vectors; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents