Hypericin and Pheophorbide a Mediated Photodynamic Therapy Fighting MRSA Wound Infections: A Translational Study from In Vitro to In Vivo
Ben Chung Lap Chan,
Priyanga Dharmaratne,
Baiyan Wang,
Kit Man Lau,
Ching Ching Lee,
David Wing Shing Cheung,
Judy Yuet Wa Chan,
Grace Gar Lee Yue,
Clara Bik San Lau,
Chun Kwok Wong,
Kwok Pui Fung,
Margaret Ip
Affiliations
Ben Chung Lap Chan
Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Priyanga Dharmaratne
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Baiyan Wang
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Kit Man Lau
Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Ching Ching Lee
Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
David Wing Shing Cheung
Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Judy Yuet Wa Chan
Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Grace Gar Lee Yue
Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Clara Bik San Lau
Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Chun Kwok Wong
Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Kwok Pui Fung
Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
Margaret Ip
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong 999077, China
High prevalence rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and lack of effective antibacterial treatments urge discovery of alternative therapeutic modalities. The advent of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising alternative, composing rapid, nonselective cell destruction without generating resistance. We used a panel of clinically relevant MRSA to evaluate hypericin (Hy) and pheophobide a (Pa)-mediated PDT with clinically approved methylene blue (MB). We translated the promising in vitro anti-MRSA activity of selected compounds to a full-thick MRSA wound infection model in mice (in vivo) and the interaction of aPDT innate immune system (cytotoxicity towards neutrophils). Hy-PDT consistently displayed lower minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values (0.625–10 µM) against ATCC RN4220/pUL5054 and a whole panel of community-associated (CA)-MRSA compared to Pa or MB. Interestingly, Pa-PDT and Hy-PDT topical application demonstrated encouraging in vivo anti-MRSA activity (>1 log10 CFU reduction). Furthermore, histological analysis showed wound healing via re-epithelization was best in the Hy-PDT group. Importantly, the dark toxicity of Hy was significantly lower (p < 0.05) on neutrophils compared to Pa or MB. Overall, Hy-mediated PDT is a promising alternative to treat MRSA wound infections, and further rigorous mechanistic studies are warranted.
