title: Photodynamic inactivation of microbial pathogens: disinfection of water and prevention of water-borne diseases.
abstract: Porphyrins have been shown to act as very efficient photosensitizing agents against a broad number of microbial pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. This property has promising applications at a clinical level for the treatment of infectious diseases by photodynamic therapy. Moreover, this technique is also being used to address environmental problems of high significance, such as the decontamination of wastewaters, the disinfection of fish-farming tanks, the protection of animal species (e.g., amphibians and reptiles) that are endangered by pathogens whose life cycle takes place largely in aqueous media, and the control of populations of noxious insects. Such diversified applications take advantage of the availability of a truly large number of porphyrin derivatives with chemical structures that can be tailored to comply with the physical and chemical properties as well as the biological features of several milieus. In addition, the property typical of porphyrins to absorb essentially all of the wavelengths in the sun emission spectrum allows the promotion of processes largely based on natural resources with significant energy savings and low impact on ecosystems.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Giulio
authors: G
authors: Jori
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Magaraggia
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Fabris
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Soncin
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Camerin
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Tallandini
authors: Olimpia
authors: O
authors: Coppellotti
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Guidolin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D044822:Biodiversity; D004203:Disinfection; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans; D007313:Insecta; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D014873:Water Pollutants