Near-infrared electromagnetic modification of cellular steady-state membrane potentials

A method comprising:

• reducing the bacterial proton-motive force (Δp-plas-Bact) and the bacterial plasma trans-membrane potential (ΔΨ-plas-bact) across a bacterial cell membrane in bacterial cells of a target site in order to potentiate one or more antibacterial agent to counteract resistance mechanisms in the bacteria, so that the antibacterial agent can inhibit the growth or proliferation of the bacteria at a lower concentration than would be necessary in the absence of the reducing step, the reducing step comprising:
• combining λn and Tn to irradiate a target site at a NIMELS dosimetry, concurrently reducing bacterial chemiosmotic electrochemical energy that is required for cellular anabolic reactions in bacteria at said target site;
• and
• simultaneously or sequentially administering an antibacterial agent to said target site, co-targeting cellular anabolic reactions wherein inhibition of one or more cellular anabolic pathways at said target site is effectuated;
• wherein λn corresponds to irradiation at wavelengths in at least one of the wavelength range of about 865 nm to about 875 nm and the wavelength range of about 925 nm to about 935 nm;
• wherein Tn corresponds to a treatment time in the range of 50 seconds to about 1200 seconds;
• and
• wherein the NIMELS dosimetry corresponds to irradiation of the target site at a power density of about 0.25 W/cm^2 to about 40 W/cm2 and an energy density of about 50 J/cm2 to about 700 J/cm2.

A method comprising:

• reducing Fungal Plasma Trans-Membrane Potential (ΔΨ-plas-fungi) or the fungal mitochondrial proton-motive force (Δp-mito-fungi) in fungal cells of a target site in order to potentiate an antifungal agent or agents to counteract a resistance mechanisms in the fungi, so that the antifungal agent or agents can once again inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of said fungi at a lower concentration than would be necessary in the absence of the present method, the reducing step comprising:
• combining λn and Tn to irradiate a target site at a NIMELS dosimetry, thereby reducing Fungal Plasma Trans-Membrane Potential (ΔΨ-plas-fungi) and/or the fungal mitochondrial proton-motive force (Δp-mito-Fungi) at said target site;
• and
• simultaneously or sequentially administering an antifungal agent or agents to said target site, co-targeting fungal cellular anabolic reactions wherein inhibition of one or more fungal cellular anabolic pathways at said target site is effectuated;
• wherein λn corresponds to irradiation at wavelengths in at least one of the wavelength range of about 865 nm to about 875 nm and the wavelength range of about 925 nm to about 935 nm;
• wherein Tn corresponds to a treatment time in the range of 50 seconds to about 1200 seconds;
• and
• wherein the NIMELS dosimetry corresponds to irradiation of the target site at a power density of about 0.25 W/cm2 to about 40 W/cm2 and an energy density of about 50 J/cm2 to about 700 J/cm2.

A method of reducing the bacterial proton-motive force (Δp-plas-Bact) and the bacterial plasma trans-membrane potential (ΔΨ-plas-bact) across a bacterial cell membrane in bacterial cells of a target site at which at least one antibacterial agent has been administered in order to inhibit bacterial cellular anabolic pathways and weaken resistance mechanisms against antibacterial molecules comprising:

• combining λn and Tn to irradiate a target site at a NIMELS dosimetry, concurrently reducing bacterial chemiosmotic electrochemical energy that is required for cellular anabolic reactions in bacteria at said target site;
• and
• wherein λn corresponds to irradiation at wavelengths in at least one of the wavelength range of about 865 nm to about 875 nm and the wavelength range of about 925 nm to about 935 nm;
• wherein Tn corresponds to a treatment time in the range of 50 seconds to about 1200 seconds;
• and
• wherein the NIMELS dosimetry corresponds to irradiation of the target site at a power density of about 0.25 W/cm2 to about 40W/cm2 and an energy density of about 50 J/cm2 to about 700 J/cm2.