A new technology that uses light to kill harmful bacteria is being assessed by experts at the University of Birmingham.
The technology, developed by Italian translational research company Biovitae, uses light at specific wavelengths within the visible spectrum to which microbes are known to be sensitive. Because the light is within the visible spectrum, it can be incorporated into lightbulbs and continuously sanitise an entire room.
The company has been working with the team at the University of Birmingham to investigate how effective the technology is in killing bacteria including E coli and Listeria, both common in foodborne diseases.
Preliminary results will be presented at an event at the company’s headquarters, in Geneva by lead researchers, Dr Helen Onyeaka, Associate Professor of Food Microbiology, and Deputy Director of the Birmingham Institute of Sustainability and Climate Action; and Dr Taghi Miri, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Food Processing in Chemical Engineering.
The team will show that the technology provides a significant reduction in populations of harmful bacteria on different surfaces including both glass and stainless steel, suggesting the light has potential to offer a non-chemical, sustainable solution for improving food safety and public health.
Dr Onyeaka said: “The rise of antimicrobial resistance poses a severe threat to global health. Our research with Biovitae visible light technology presents a promising, sustainable solution to reduce microbial contamination.”
Dr Miri added: “This technology not only supports better hygiene practices but also aligns with sustainability goals by offering a non-chemical method to combat pathogens effectively.”
Mauro Pantaleo, CEO of Biovitae, added: “We are proud about this collaboration and the opportunity to validate the technology internationally and in specific sectors. We hope to be able to offer an active and sustainable contribution to the fight against anti-microbial resistance.”
The event, moderated by the Health Innovation Exchange, is called Antimicrobial Resistance: Rethinking our Response to Overcome the Crisis, and will also include presentations from Prof. Orazio Schillaci – Italian Minister of Health and Prof. Enrico Garaci, former President of ISS – Italian National Institute of Health.
