Rapid Uptake and Photodynamic Inactivation of Staphylococci by Ga(III)-Protoporphyrin IX.

ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising method for the topical treatment of drug-resistant staphylococcal infections and can be further improved by identifying mechanisms that increase the specificity of photosensitizer uptake by bacteria. Here we show that Ga(III)-protoporphyrin IX chloride (Ga-PpIX), a fluorescent hemin analog with previously undisclosed photosensitizing properties, can be taken up within seconds by Staphylococcus aureus including multidrug-resistant strains such as MRSA. The uptake of Ga-PpIX by staphylococci is likely diffusion-limited and is attributed to the expression of high-affinity cell-surface hemin receptors (CSHRs), namely iron-regulated surface determinant (Isd) proteins. A structure-activity study reveals the ionic character of both the heme

SUBMITTER: Morales-de-Echegaray AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6724182 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature