A treatment for acne without side effects has been created from modified bacteria, reports a new study.
Acne is perfectly normal and common, but it can be hard to bear. Although it is more common among teenagers, anyone can suffer from it. There are treatments for mild cases, but severe cases are often treated with antibiotics that can cause a number of unwanted side effects, according to Newsweek.
Acne is caused by swelling or blockage of hair follicles. Antibiotics aim to kill the bacteria in these follicles, and their side effects can include stomach upset, dizziness and sensitivity to light.
Now, an international research led by the Translational Synthetic Biology Laboratory within the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS) of Pompeu Fabra University in Spain may have found an alternative.
Scientists have modified the skin bacterium Cutibacterium acnes so that it produces a molecule that treats acne. It works by secreting the molecule in the skin that regulates the amount of an oily substance called sebum.
When too much sebum is produced, it can cause acne because it mixes with dead skin cells and thus blocks the follicles. This treatment would work to prevent this.
“We developed a topical therapy with a targeted approach, using what nature already has. We designed a bacteria that lives in the skin and made it produce what our skin needs. Here, we focused on the treatment of acne, but this platform can be extended to several other indications”, said Nastassia Knodlseder, the first author of the study, in a summary detailing the results, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.
“Until now, C. acnes was considered a difficult bacterium to solve. It was incredibly difficult to introduce DNA and obtain proteins produced or secreted by an element inserted into its genome”.
The team considered several factors to ensure it would be suitable for real-life applications, such as antibiotic resistance.
To test its effectiveness, scientists applied it to mice. Although it was successful in these tests, the scientists pointed out that more research is needed, because the skin of mice is not the same as that of humans.
The next steps will include using 3D models of human skin to test its effectiveness.
“We have developed a technological platform that opens the door to editing any bacteria to treat multiple diseases. Currently, we focus on using C. acnes to treat acne, but we can deliver genetic circuits to create smart microbes for applications related to skin sensing or immune modulation,” said Marc Guell, ICREA researcher who led the study, in summary .
2024-01-13 08:59:10
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