Prospects of photosensitization in control of pathogenic and harmful micro-organisms.

Photosensitization is a treatment involving the interaction of the two nontoxic factors, photoactive compound and visible light, which in the presence of oxygen results in the selective destruction of the target cell. Different micro-organisms, such as multidrug-resistant bacteria, yeasts, microfungi and viruses, are susceptible to this treatment. Therefore, a photosensitization phenomenon might open a new avenue for the development of nonthermal, effective and ecologically friendly antimicrobial technology, which might be applied for food safety.