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Tsen SWD, Popovich J, Hodges M, Haydel SE, Tsen KT, Sudlow G, Mueller EA, Levin PA, Achilefu S. Inactivation of multidrug-resistant bacteria and bacterial spores and generation of high-potency bacterial vaccines using ultrashort pulsed lasers. J Biophotonics 2022; 15:e202100207. [PMID: 34802194 PMCID: PMC8934174 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202100207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) represent a continuing healthcare crisis with no definitive solution to date. An alternative to antibiotics is the development of therapies and vaccines using biocompatible physical methods such as ultrashort pulsed (USP) lasers, which have previously been shown to inactivate pathogens while minimizing collateral damage to human cells, blood proteins, and vaccine antigens. Here we demonstrate that visible USP laser treatment results in bactericidal effect (≥3-log load reduction) against clinically significant MDROs, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. Bacillus cereus endospores, which are highly resistant to conventional chemical and physical treatments, were also shown to be effectively inactivated by USP laser treatment, resulting in sporicidal (≥3-log load reduction) activity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that administration of USP laser-inactivated E. coli whole-cell vaccines at dosages as low as 105 cfu equivalents without adjuvant was able to protect 100% of mice against subsequent lethal challenge. Our findings open the possibility for application of USP lasers in disinfection of hospital environments, therapy of drug-resistant bacterial infections in skin or bloodstream via pheresis modalities, and in the production of potent bacterial vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaw-Wei D. Tsen
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110
| | - John Popovich
- The Biodesign Institute Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Megan Hodges
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Shelley E. Haydel
- The Biodesign Institute Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Kong-Thon Tsen
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
- Center for Biophysics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Gail Sudlow
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110
| | | | - Petra Anne Levin
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130
| | - Samuel Achilefu
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130
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Tsen SWD, Kibler K, Jacobs B, Fay JC, Podolnikova NP, Ugarova TP, Achilefu S, Tsen KT. Selective photonic disinfection of cell culture using a visible ultrashort pulsed laser. IEEE J Sel Top Quantum Electron 2016; 22:7100508. [PMID: 27013847 PMCID: PMC4800335 DOI: 10.1109/jstqe.2015.2498920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Microbial contamination of cell culture is a major problem encountered both in academic labs and in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industries. A broad spectrum of microbes including mycoplasma, bacteria, fungi, and viruses are the causative agents of cell culture contamination. Unfortunately, the existing disinfection techniques lack selectivity and/or lead to the development of drug-resistance, and more importantly there is no universal method to address all microbes. Here, we report a novel, chemical-free visible ultrashort pulsed laser method for cell culture disinfection. The ultrashort pulsed laser technology inactivates pathogens with mechanical means, a paradigm shift from the traditional pharmaceutical and chemical approaches. We demonstrate that ultrashort pulsed laser treatment can efficiently inactivate mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and viruses with good preservation of mammalian cell viability. Our results indicate that this ultrashort pulsed laser technology has the potential to serve as a universal method for the disinfection of cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaw-Wei D. Tsen
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110
| | - Karen Kibler
- Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Bert Jacobs
- Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Justin C. Fay
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110
| | - NP Podolnikova
- ASU/Mayo Center for Metabolic and Vascular Biology, Arizona State University Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - TP Ugarova
- ASU/Mayo Center for Metabolic and Vascular Biology, Arizona State University Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Samuel Achilefu
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110
| | - Kong-Thon Tsen
- Department of Physics and Center for Biophysics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504
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Tsen SWD, Kingsley DH, Kibler K, Jacobs B, Sizemore S, Vaiana SM, Anderson J, Tsen KT, Achilefu S. Pathogen reduction in human plasma using an ultrashort pulsed laser. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111673. [PMID: 25372037 PMCID: PMC4221090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 09/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogen reduction is a viable approach to ensure the continued safety of the blood supply against emerging pathogens. However, the currently licensed pathogen reduction techniques are ineffective against non-enveloped viruses such as hepatitis A virus, and they introduce chemicals with concerns of side effects which prevent their widespread use. In this report, we demonstrate the inactivation of both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses in human plasma using a novel chemical-free method, a visible ultrashort pulsed laser. We found that laser treatment resulted in 2-log, 1-log, and 3-log reductions in human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis A virus, and murine cytomegalovirus in human plasma, respectively. Laser-treated plasma showed ≥70% retention for most coagulation factors tested. Furthermore, laser treatment did not alter the structure of a model coagulation factor, fibrinogen. Ultrashort pulsed lasers are a promising new method for chemical-free, broad-spectrum pathogen reduction in human plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaw-Wei D. Tsen
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David H. Kingsley
- U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Food Safety and Intervention Technologies Research Unit, James W. W. Baker Center, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Karen Kibler
- Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Bert Jacobs
- Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Sara Sizemore
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Biophysics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Sara M. Vaiana
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Biophysics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jeanne Anderson
- Department of Hematology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kong-Thon Tsen
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Biophysics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Samuel Achilefu
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Ultrafast lasers in the visible and near-infrared range have emerged as a potential new method for pathogen reduction of blood products and pharmaceuticals. However, the mechanism of enveloped virus inactivation by this method is unknown. We report the inactivation as well as the molecular and structural effects caused by visible (425 nm) femtosecond laser irradiation on murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus. Our results show that laser irradiation (1) caused a 5-log reduction in MCMV titer, (2) did not cause significant changes to the global structure of MCMV virions including membrane and capsid, as assessed by electron microscopy, (3) produced no evidence of double-strand breaks or crosslinking in MCMV genomic DNA, and (4) caused selective aggregation of viral capsid and tegument proteins. We propose a model in which ultrafast laser irradiation induces partial unfolding of viral proteins by disrupting hydrogen bonds and/or hydrophobic interactions, leading to aggregation of closely associated viral proteins and inactivation of the virus. These results provide new insight into the inactivation of enveloped viruses by visible femtosecond lasers at the molecular level, and help pave the way for the development of a new ultrafast laser technology for pathogen reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaw-Wei D. Tsen
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Travis Chapa
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Wandy Beatty
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Kong-Thon Tsen
- Arizona State University, Department of Physics, Tempe, Arizona 85287
- Arizona State University, Center for Biophysics, Tempe, Arizona 85287
- Address correspondence to: Samuel Achilefu, Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, St. Louis, Missouri 63110. Tel: 314-362-8599; Fax: 314-747-5191; E-mail: , or Kong-Thon Tsen, Arizona State University, Department of Physics, Tempe, Arizona 85287. Tel: 480-965-5206; Fax: 480-965-7954;
| | - Dong Yu
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Samuel Achilefu
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
- Address correspondence to: Samuel Achilefu, Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, St. Louis, Missouri 63110. Tel: 314-362-8599; Fax: 314-747-5191; E-mail: , or Kong-Thon Tsen, Arizona State University, Department of Physics, Tempe, Arizona 85287. Tel: 480-965-5206; Fax: 480-965-7954;
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Tsen SWD. Evidence of a Novel Gene from Aeromonas hydrophilaEncoding a Putative Siderophore Receptor Involved in Bacterial Growth and Survival. Drug Target Insights 2008. [DOI: 10.4137/dti.s634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shaw-Wei D. Tsen
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD U.S.A
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