By: Staff | 26 August 2024 | 4 min reading time |
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The study indicates that Lactobacillus curvatus BGMK2-41, extracted from a Balkan clotted cream, removes bacteria from infected skin cells and strengthens the skin’s natural defense mechanisms.
Wound infections, including those that frequently occur in chronic wounds, represent a serious medical challenge.
Non-healing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers, often lead to a number of adverse health events, including prolonged hospital stays, lower extremity amputations, and even death.
According to the American Diabetes Association, between 19 and 34% of the 537 million diabetics worldwide suffer from diabetic foot ulcers, and nearly one in five requires amputation.
Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine recently published a multidisciplinary study on The FASEB Journal Investigation of the effects of postbiotics on wounds treated with S. aureusa gram-positive bacterium that is responsible for a variety of diseases, including wound infections. The study appeared on the cover of the journal.
The international “Team Science” analysis included:
• First co-author Dr. Miroslav Dinic from the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, who was supported by a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct part of this research at the University of Miami
• First co-author and Miller School Medical Scientist Training Program student Jamie L. Burgess, who contributed to the study as part of her doctoral research
• Seth Thaler, MD, professor of surgery in the DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery at the Miller School
The healing powers of Lactobacillus spp. BGMK2-41
The team found that a particular postbiotic, Lactobacillus curvatus BGMK2-41, extracted from the Balkan clotted cream Kajmak, not only cleared infected skin cells of bacteria, but also strengthened the skin’s natural defense mechanisms, reduced inflammation and improved the skin’s ability to repair itself.
“This is a great example of the healing power of food, literally,” said Dr. Tomic-Canic, William H. Eaglstein, MD, chair of wound healing, associate principal investigator and director of the Wound Healing and Regenerative Medicine Research Program at the Miller School. “Bioactive lysates of bacteria isolated from fermented foods demonstrate several beneficial effects that promote healing.”
The study results could be crucial for the development of new and better treatments for persistent wound infections of the skin, sparing patients considerable discomfort and eliminating the need for drastic measures such as amputations.
“The development of new antimicrobial treatments that can also stimulate several different cellular responses that accelerate wound closure and restore the barrier has significant potential clinical impact on wound infections,” said Dr. Pastar, one of the corresponding co-authors.
Find hidden infections
Staphylococcus aureus infections are the most common cause of infected ulcers. The bacteria can hide in cells and evade antibiotics and the body’s natural immune responses, causing infections to become chronic and recurring. Lactobacillus curvatus BGMK2-41 was effective in “finding” and eradicating the hidden Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. It also stimulated antimicrobial peptides, promoted skin re-epithelialization, and restored the skin barrier.
The team looks forward to advancing this study into preclinical and clinical testing.
“This promising discovery paves the way for the further development and use of components of ‘good bacteria’ to treat intracellular skin infections,” said Dr. Tomic-Canic.
Keywords: DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, diabetic foot ulcers, Dr. Irena Pastar, Dr. Marjana Tomic-Canic, Dr. Philip Frost Department of Dermatology and Skin Surgery, Dr. Seth Thaler, wound healing, wound healing and regenerative medicine research program
