Laser company's "unprecedented" destruction of E coli could change food industry

Theralase Technologies Inc. announced that its patented Photo Dynamic Compounds (PDCs) have been used in the destruction of Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, a widely prevalent disease causing bacteria. Toronto-based Theralase Technologies Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets patented, superpulsed laser technology for biostimulation and biodestruction applications.

The PDCs have shown an ability to destroy bacteria when light activated, in new research performed under the direction of Theralase's Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Arkady Mandel. Future applications of this newly discovered use of PDC technology to destroy bacteria include: enhanced food safety through sterilization of food processing equipment, hospital treatment room and medical equipment sterilization, implant sterilization and other bacteria destruction applications.

Dr. Mandel stated, "Our research has repeatedly demonstrated that our Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) destruction of E. coli bacteria is effective and represents a significant opportunity in the area of disinfection and sterilization of bacterial pathogens that may cause serious and potentially life-threatening illness."

A company spokesman said that they have seen "unprecedented destruction of E. coli, a complete eradication of vegetative bacteria (a 7-log kill after 10 minutes of exposure). The next step is to test our system in the established biofilm model in vitro.”

E. coli is one of the top 4 pathogen causing Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that HAIs have led to US$45 billion in healthcare costs annually and have resulted in nearly 100,000 deaths per year, making HAIs the fourth leading cause of death.

The most recent outbreak has killed hundreds of people and made thousands sick internationally, directly impacting the food supply. European farmers alone claimed to have lost up to US$611 million a week as recently as May and June of this year.

Roger Dumoulin-White, President and CEO of Theralase added that the company was "encouraged" that the PDCs were proving effective in varied applications, including the destruction of cancer cells, but also in the destruction of various types of bacteria, including Listeria and E. coli.