Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of visible light or phototherapy to modify the intracellular DNA of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of phototherapy on drug resistance in prokaryotic cells using a tester strain of gentamycin sensitive E. coli. A growing population of the tester strain was inoculated onto agar plates containing minimal medium and gentamycin. The plates were divided into two populations, one which was illuminated while the other was kept in the dark to serve as a control. The cells were illuminated under a standard phototherapy unit (Dura Test Vita Lite). The unit was protected from direct sunlight and air cooled to maintain the cultures at 23°. The sample distance from the light source was adjusted to maintain a fluence rate (450 nm) of 141 μWcm2. An increased mutation frequency to gentamycin resistance was seen in the irradiated population. The relationship between light induced antimicrobial resistance and the recent emergence of drug resistant bacteria in neonatal nurseries needs to be determined.
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Polin, R., Speck, W. 805 INDUCTION OF GENTAMYCIN RESISTANCE BY VISIBLE LIGHT. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 498 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00810
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00810