Far-Red Light Triggers Tiny Protein to Silence Biofilms in Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

A Nature Communications study reports that far-red light activates the periplasmic microprotein DimA in antibiotic‑resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, triggering a cascade that represses biofilm formation and reduces virulence; virulence promoters are not activated under far-red light, and bacteria with disrupted photosensing showed higher virulence, suggesting a potential light‑based approach to complement antibiotics. The researchers also hint at overexpressing DimA to further prevent biofilm formation.