Effect on the Microbiota

Mise à jour le   23/04/2026

Table 6. Summary of studies examining how aPDT influences microbiota composition and modulation.

aPDT Conditions

Targeted microorganism(s)

Observation(s)

Outcome

Reference

N.C., Diode Laser, 670 nm, 3 applications

Tannerella forsythia, P. gingivalis

In vivo microbiota alteration with an increase of Actinomyces species

+

link

MB, Diode laser, 660 nm

K. pneumoniae, E. coli, P. aeruginosa,

In vivo microbiota alteration with the substitution of the original microbial strains by clones of the same species in boid snakes

±

link

Phenothiazine chloride, Diode laser, 660 nm, 4 applications

N.C.

In vivo shift in subgingival microbiota with a non-significant decrease of Fusobacterium nucleatum count in patients with chronic periodontitis

0

link

Erythrosine, Diode laser blue light

Streptococcus mutans, C. albicans

Decrease of commensal Lactobacillus casei in 3 species biofilms

-

link

ICG, Diode laser, 808 nm, number of applications N.C.

Porphyromononas endodontalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Treponema medium

In vivo, decreased relative abundance of Porphyromononas, Tannerella, and Treponema. Increased relative abundance of Actinomyces, Capnocytophaga, and Streptococcus 3 months post-treatment in 3 patients with chronic periodontitis

+

link

5-ALA, LED, 630 nm

Cutibacterium acnes 

In vivo increase of P. fluorescens relative abundance, increased microbiota diversity, and restoration of the healthy microbial community in patients with severe acne

+

link

5-ALA, N.C.

C. acnes

In vivo increase of Bacillus and Lactococcus  relative abundance, phenotype, and function alteration, and increased microbiota diversity in patients with severe acne

+

link

Cur, LED, 405 nm

Vibrio spp.

In vivo decreased microbial diversity and reduction of beneficial microbial groups in Artemia nauplii and post larvae of Penaeus monodon

-

link

ICG, Diode laser, 810 nm, 2 applications

P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, P. nigrescens, C. rectus, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and P. micra

In vivo transient shift toward a more balanced microbial community at 3 months post-treatment was not maintained at 6 months in patients with chronic periodontitis

+

link

5-ALA, LED, 630 nm

C. acnes, and other Actinoabacteria

In vivo increased microbial diversity, reduction of relative abundance of Actinoabacteria, increased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, 3 weeks post-treatment in patients with severe acne

+

link

5-ALA, LED, 400-410 nm

F. nucleatum

Reduction of Fusobacterium, no significant alteration in α-diversity

0

link

5-ALA & MAL, LED, 400-700 nm

Staphylococcus spp.

Firmicutes proportion reduction, higher median richness, and diversity of skin microbiota in patients with skin antisepsis

+

link

Abbreviations: 5-ALA: 5-aminolevulinic acid; Cur: curcumin; ICG: indocyanine green; LED: light-emitting diode; MAL: methyl-aminolevulinate; MB: methylene blue; N.C.: not communicated; +: pro-immunomodulatory; −: immune-dysregulatory; ±: dual/ context-dependent; 0: neutral