Study the Power He-Ne Laser Effect on Dermatophyte Candida albicans
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31149/ijimm.v4i2.2651Keywords:
C. albicans, He–Ne laser, Low-Level Laser Therapy, Dry WeightAbstract
Candida albicans is an opportunistic yeast, which is part of the human flora and can cause superficial and systemic infections. He–Ne laser (632.8 nm) in low-level laser therapy was found to modulate the bacteria growth without inducing thermal damage. The effects of He–Ne laser irradiation on the growth and biomass of C. albicans from skin infections were examined in this work. Seventy-five skin swabs of 15–40 years old patients were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. One strain of C. albicans was irradiated by a He–Ne CW laser at 632.8 nm with exposure times of 10, 30 and 50 s. Colony size, dry weight, daily growth rate, recovery efficiency and morphological modifications were determined. Each treatment was replicated three times. Short-term irradiation (10 seconds) significantly inhibited yeast growth, reducing colony diameter to 2.10 ± 0.10 cm, dry weight to 60 ± 2 mg, daily growth rate to 0.53 cm/day, and recovery ratio to 65.6%, compared with the control (3.20 ± 0.12 cm, 85 ± 3 mg, 0.80 cm/day, 100%). Longer irradiation times (30–50 seconds) resulted in partial recovery of growth and biomass, indicating a biphasic response. Morphological examination showed reduced hyphal formation at 10 seconds, whereas colonies at 30–50 seconds resembled the control. The inhibitory effect of He–Ne laser on C. albicans is time dependent, and the most significant suppression occurred after minimum exposure to laser. These findings indicate that low power He-Ne laser could be used as a supplementary antifungal form.
References
[1] Abdullah SH, Mokhtari-Dizaji M, Hormozi-Moghaddam Z, Bakhshandeh M, Nilforoshzadeh MA. Laser Photobiomodulation of Human Dermal Fibroblasts Combined With Plasma Rich in Growth Factors and Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Comparative In Vitro Analysis. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed.2025;41(6):e70063.
[2] Abdullah SH, Mokhtari-Dizaji M, Hormozi-Moghaddam Z, Bakhshandeh M, Nilforoshzadeh MA. Effects of Low-Level Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide Laser Therapy on Human Dermal Fibroblast Proliferation, ATP, and ROS Levels. J Lasers Med Sci. 2025 26;16:e27.
[3] Ball K. Lasers: The perioperative challenge. 2nd ed. Nabcy L. Coon, USA; 1995.
[4] Nambiar KR. Laser Principles, Types and Applications. New Age International P Limited Publishers; 2004.
[5] Molero G, Diez-Orejas R, Navarro-Garcia F, Monteoliva L, Pla J, Gil C, Sánchez-Pérez M, Nombela C. Candida albicans: Genetics, dimorphism and pathogenicity. Int Microbiol. 1998;1:95–106.
[6] Ferrer J. Vaginal candidosis: Epidemiological and etiological factors. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2000;71:21–7.
[7] Naris B. World of Microbiology and Immunology. Detroit, MI: Gale Publishing; 2003. Vol. 1.
[8] Ciurea CN, Irina-Bianca K, Anca DM, Felicia T, Ionela A, Adrian M. Candida and candidiasis—opportunism versus pathogenicity: a review of the virulence traits. J Microorganisms. 2020;8:857–74.
[9] Silva S, Negri M, Henriques M, Oliveira R, Williams DW, Azeredo J. Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis: biology, epidemiology, pathogenicity and antifungal resistance. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2011;36:288–305.
[10] Sardi JC, Scorzoni L, Bernardi T, Fusco-Almeida AM, Mendes MJS. Candida species: current epidemiology, pathogenicity, biofilm formation, natural antifungal products and new therapeutic options. J Med Microbiol. 2013;62:10–24.
[11] Hoshi N, Mori H, Taguchi H, Taniguchi M, Aoki H, Sawada T, et al. Management of oral candidiasis in denture wearers. J Prosthodont Res. 2011;55:48–52.
[12] Bakhshi M, Taheri JB, Shabestari SB, Tanik A, Pahlevan R. Comparison of therapeutic effect of aqueous extract of garlic and nystatin mouthwash in denture stomatitis. Gerodontology. 2012;29:680–4.
[13] Wilson M, Mia N. Sensitization of Candida albicans to killing by low power light. J Oral Pathol Med. 1993;22(8):354–7.
[14] Bown SG, Lovell LB. The biology of photodynamic therapy in the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2000;10(3):533–50.
[15] Al-Khazragi R, Al-Samaraee I. Effect of laser light on lymphocyte apoptosis. Iraqi J Med Sci. 2008;6(1):45–51.
[16] Vladimirov YA, Osipov AN, Klebanov GI. Photobiological principles of therapeutic applications of laser radiation. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2004;69(1):81–90.
[17] Karu TI. Low power laser therapy. In: Tuan Vo-Dinh T, editor. Biomedical Photonic Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2003. p. 48-1–48-25.
[18] Fedoseyeva GE, Karu TI, Letokhov VS, Lobko VV, Pomoshikova NA, Lyopunova TS, Meissd MN. Effect of He-Ne laser irradiation on the reproduction and protein synthesis in yeast. Laser Chemistry. 1984;5:27–33.
[19] Ferreira MC, Brito VN, Gameiro J, Costa MR, Vasconcellos EC, Cruz-Hofling MA, Verinaud L. Effects of HeNe laser irradiation on experimental paracoccidioidomycotic lesions. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2006;84(2):141–9.
