Efficacy of a Biophotonics Adjunct in Viral and Microbial Infections

Abstract

Orien L Tulp* and George P Einstein

Discovery and development of effective strategies to treat emerging and often drug resistant strains of viral and microbial pathogens presents one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Despite nearly a century of progress in developments in antimicrobial and antiviral therapies, infectious diseases still account for a substantial proportion of deaths worldwide. This toll includes over 100 million globally in the recent pandemic to date. In recent decades, the plague of antimicrobial resistance has also represented an additional and alarming signal for both human and animal healthcare and now signals a renewed sense of urgency in addressing this issue. This has made the search for novel classes of antibiotics, antivirals and therapeutics found to be capable of bypassing the microbial and viral resistance mechanisms necessary. Thus, attempts to replenish our current arsenal of antimicrobial and antiviral drugs and update our therapeutic regimens remains a key priority. In addition, the tremendous impact exerted by viral infections and related pathologies on our lives during the recent decade has forced scientists to acknowledge the opportunities and challenges associated with tackling infectious diseases. This challenge can only be met by developing effective antiviral agents that may be endowed with novel mechanisms of action. The discovery of new antimicrobial/antiviral agents, as well as the repurposing of existing drugs and therapeutic options will be crucial to fight the ever-increasing resistance of “superbugs”, pathogenic fungi, viruses, and parasites. Some proponents of modern biophoton therapy discussed in this paper can trace their origins to the Russian scientist Alexander Gurwitsch. A century ago, Gurwitsch observed ultra-weak emissions of light emerging from an onion root, and soon found additional living tissues to be emanating similar energetic phenomena. Thus, Gurwitsch’s energizing research which continues to the present day was projected toward the development of useful applications of the new-found biological photonic phenomena. The purpose of the present paper is to introduce the past experiences with forms of biophotonic therapy. This includes potential applications and some highly successful outcomes of biophotonic therapy when used as an option to treat infectious diseases including HIV, Hepatitis C, MRSA, and others. These observations included an emphasis on efficacy of using biophotonic therapies to treat and ameliorate the drug resistant variants of the above infectious agents. The discussion includes potential applications for the current COVID-19 pandemic and in addition to preparation for the emergence of the next epidemic or pandemic.