Resolution of bacterial infections is often hampered by both resistance to conventional antibiotic therapy and hiding of bacterial cells inside biofilms, warranting the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. Here, we report the efficacy of blue laser light in eradicating Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells, grown in planktonic state, agar plates and mature biofilms, both in vitro and in vivo, with minimal toxicity to mammalian cells and tissues. Results obtained using knock-out mutants point to oxidative stress as a relevant mechanism by which blue laser light exerts its anti-microbial effect. Finally, the therapeutic potential is confirmed in a mouse model of skin wound infection. Collectively, these data set blue laser phototherapy as an innovative approach to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation, and thus as a realistic treatment option for superinfected wounds.

细菌感染的解决通常受到对传统抗生素治疗的耐药性和细菌细胞隐藏在生物膜内的阻碍，因此需要开发创新的治疗策略。在这里，我们报告了蓝色激光在根除铜绿假单胞菌方面的功效浮游状态下生长的细胞、琼脂板和成熟的生物膜，无论是在体外还是在体内，对哺乳动物细胞和组织的毒性最小。使用敲除突变体获得的结果表明，氧化应激是蓝色激光发挥其抗微生物作用的相关机制。最后，在皮肤伤口感染的小鼠模型中证实了治疗潜力。总的来说，这些数据将蓝色激光光疗设置为一种抑制细菌生长和生物膜形成的创新方法，从而成为重感染伤口的现实治疗选择。