Researchers at the University of Oregon have discovered a molecule produced by yeast living on human skin that shows potent antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen responsible for half a million hospitalizations annually in the US. The unique approach to tackling antibiotic-resistant bacteria is based on fungi inhabiting human skin.
The study found that Malassezia gobbles up oil and fats on human skin to produce fatty acids, which selectively eliminate Staphylococcus aureus. Fatty acids have various functions in cells, but when produced by Malassezia sympodialis, they become detergent-like, destroying the membranes of Staphylococcus aureus and killing the bacteria in as little as 15 minutes.
The discovery was made by Caitlin Kowalski, a postdoctoral researcher at the UO, who led the study. While the fungus isn’t a magic bullet, the researchers found that the bacteria eventually became tolerant to it after enough exposure, similar to clinical antibiotics.
Kowalski’s findings highlight the potential of resident fungi as a new source for future antibiotics and the need for further research into their interactions with other microbes. The discovery adds complexity to drug discovery but offers a promising avenue for treating antibiotic-resistant infections.
The study is part of a growing interest in applying microbes as a therapeutic, but it also raises concerns about the consequences of such applications. Kowalski’s team collaborated with chemical microbiologists at McMaster University and is working on follow-up studies to investigate genetic mechanisms that led to antibiotic tolerance.
Kowalski aims to further investigate the overlooked role of the skin microbiome in human health and disease, paving the way for new treatments against antibiotic-resistant infections.
Source: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/this-common-fungus-found-on-human-skin-wipes-out-deadly-superbug-staph-infections