New COST Action PanEuCOPT: Light as a key to combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Imagine if light could banish not only monsters from childhood nightmares but also the ‘Nightmare bacteria’ described in a recent Nature news article. This innovative approach is known inter alia as [Photodynamic Inactivation]. It uses the synergistic effect of drugs, light, and molecular oxygen to effectively combat bacteria, even if resistant to conventional treatment; This technology is classified as promising by the WHO.

Despite encouraging results from in vitro and in vivo studies, [Photodynamic Inactivation] has so far been scarcely adopted by pharmaceutical companies and rarely included in university curricula. This results in low awareness and skepticism towards the method. Additionally, the lack of standardized protocols makes it difficult to compare results from different laboratories.

The new COST Action PanEuCOPT (CA24127), funded by the European Union with approximately €600,000, addresses the critical challenges by uniting European scientists from multiple disciplines - including photobiologists, microbiologists, pharmacists, physicists, and medical doctors - alongside industry representatives. Over the course of four years, this collaborative network will develop binding guidelines that encompass standardized testing protocols, illumination device specifications, educational materials, and terminology. The ultimate goal is to advance [Photodynamic Inactivation] of microbial pathogens toward clinical trials and regulatory approvals (Figure 1).

The project officially launched at its inaugural Management Committee Meeting in Brussels on October 9th, chaired by Bianka Siewert from the University of Hamburg (Germany), with key leadership positions being elected (see Figure 2).

Our vision is clear: to create a functional and safe alternative to conventional antibiotic prescriptions, urgently needed in times of increasing antibiotic resistance. This initiative could pave the way for novel antimicrobial therapies, addressing not only scientific but also societal challenges. By definition, each COST Action is a “living” organization open for everyone to join and shape the future together (Fig. 3).