06/08/2026
Scientists just demonstrated a way to eliminate one of the most important bacteria behind gum disease—without disrupting the healthy microbes that help protect the mouth.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed an experimental therapy called Near-Infrared Photo-Antibacterial Targeting Therapy (NIR-PAT²) that selectively targets Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone pathogen strongly associated with periodontitis. Instead of broadly killing oral bacteria like conventional antibiotics or standard antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, this approach uses a specific antibody linked to a light-sensitive dye. Once the antibody binds to P. gingivalis, near-infrared light activates the dye, destroying the harmful bacterium while leaving surrounding beneficial bacteria largely unaffected.
In laboratory experiments, the therapy selectively eliminated P. gingivalis without damaging healthy human gum cells. In mouse models of periodontitis, it significantly reduced alveolar bone loss and helped restore a healthier oral microbiome by preserving beneficial Streptococcus species that were lost with conventional treatments. Researchers also observed less release of inflammatory bacterial endotoxins compared with traditional antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.
This research represents a shift toward precision microbiome therapy—treating disease-causing bacteria while preserving the beneficial microbial community that supports oral health. Although these findings are highly promising, the therapy has so far been evaluated only in laboratory studies and animal models. Human clinical trials will be necessary before it can become part of routine periodontal treatment.
📚Source: Journal of Translational Medicine (2026).
Maruyama H, et al. Near infrared photo-bacterialflora modulation technology realized controlling periodontitis: modulation of disease-associated dysbiosis in oral microbiota using near infrared photo-antibacterial targeting therapy (NIR-PAT²). DOI: 10.1186/s12967-026-08336-2
