Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Jan 2023)

Photodynamic nasal SARS-CoV-2 decolonization shortens infectivity and influences specific T-Cell responses

  • Alejandro Fernandez-Montero,
  • Alejandro Fernandez-Montero,
  • Alejandro Fernandez-Montero,
  • Jon Zuaznabar,
  • Manuel Pina-Sanchez,
  • Sheila Maestro,
  • Sheila Maestro,
  • Loreto Martin-Navarro,
  • Natalia Muñoz-Rodríguez,
  • Cristina Olagüe,
  • Cristina Olagüe,
  • Marta Pastrana,
  • Maria Martínez-Fernández,
  • Gracian Camps,
  • Jose Antonio Rodriguez,
  • Jose Antonio Rodriguez,
  • Jose Antonio Rodriguez,
  • Jose Antonio Rodriguez,
  • Francesco P. Marchese,
  • Jon Zazpe,
  • Marta Pozuelo,
  • Marta Pozuelo,
  • José Luis Del Pozo,
  • José Luis Del Pozo,
  • José Luis Del Pozo,
  • José Luis Del Pozo,
  • Jorge Quiroga,
  • Jorge Quiroga,
  • Jorge Quiroga,
  • Antonio Pineda-Lucena,
  • Gabriel Reina,
  • Gabriel Reina,
  • Gabriel Reina,
  • Jack Kolenda,
  • Laura Moreno-Galarraga,
  • Laura Moreno-Galarraga,
  • Gloria Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza,
  • Gloria Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza,
  • Marta Rua,
  • Cristian Smerdou,
  • Cristian Smerdou,
  • Francisco Carmona-Torre,
  • Francisco Carmona-Torre,
  • Francisco Carmona-Torre,
  • Josepmaria Argemi,
  • Josepmaria Argemi,
  • Josepmaria Argemi,
  • Josepmaria Argemi,
  • Josepmaria Argemi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1110467
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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BackgroundThe main objective was to evaluate the efficacy of intranasal photodynamic therapy (PDT) in SARS-CoV-2 mildly symptomatic carriers on decreasing the infectivity period. SARS-CoV-2-specific immune-stimulating effects and safety were also analysed.MethodsWe performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in a tertiary hospital (NCT05184205). Patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR in the last 48 hours were recruited and aleatorily assigned to PDT or placebo. Patients with pneumonia were excluded. Participants and investigators were masked to group assignment. The primary outcome was the reduction in in vitro infectivity of nasopharyngeal samples at days 3 and 7. Additional outcomes included safety assessment and quantification of humoral and T-cell immune-responses.FindingsPatients were recruited between December 2021 and February 2022. Most were previously healthy adults vaccinated against COVID-19 and most carried Omicron variant. 38 patients were assigned to placebo and 37 to PDT. Intranasal PDT reduced infectivity at day 3 post-treatment when compared to placebo with a β-coefficient of -812.2 (CI95%= -478660 – -1.3, p<0.05) infectivity arbitrary units. The probability of becoming PCR negative (ct>34) at day 7 was higher on the PDT-group, with an OR of 0.15 (CI95%=0.04-0.58). There was a decay in anti-Spike titre and specific SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity in the placebo group 10 and 20 weeks after infection, but not in the PDT-group. No serious adverse events were reported.InterpretationIntranasal-PDT is safe in pauci-symptomatic COVID-19 patients, it reduces SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and decelerates the decline SARS-CoV-2 specific immune-responses.

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