A research team from Osaka City University in Japan have succeeded in treating skin ulcers caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and LED lights, according to a Nikkei Technology report.

The group’s treatment trials on mouse with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infected skin ulcers were effective, and did not cause the emergence of resistant bacteria.

The mouse used in the sutdy has skin ulcers infected with MRSA on its back. (Photo Courtesy of Nikkei Technology)

MRSA is a type of bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics, and has become a major global issue in the medical field where skin infections caused by the bacteria are particularly difficult to cure and can even cause death.

The group administered the treatment to a mouse infected with skin ulcers infected with MRSA on its back. The ALA a substance that give photosensitivity was applied with PDT using a blue-violet LED light source at a wavelength of 410 nm. The PDT is a treatment that destroys targeted cells with reactive oxygen generated by applying a light with a specific wavelength after concentrating photo-sensitive substances on the target issue.

The research team’s results were published on the US online journal PLOS ONE under the title "Photodynamic therapy using systemic administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid and 410-nm wavelength light emitting diode for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infected ulcers in mice."