I came across this fascinating research paper that explores the potential of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as therapeutics in human atopic dermatitis (AD).
Although the pathogenesis of AD is complex and not fully understood, it is widely recognized that dysbiosis plays a pivotal role in this condition. Patients with AD often exhibit decreased expression of AMPs which is linked to increased colonization by Staphylococcus aureus.
Main findings:
✅ The prevalence of S. aureus in AD patients is approximately 20 times higher compared to the skin of healthy individuals
✅ S. aureus secretes several metabolites that contribute to the pro-inflammatory activity and disruption of the skin barrier
✅ The resident skin microbiota plays a crucial role in preventing the colonization of pathogens by producing a range of short-peptide bacteriocins
⚠️ Considering these findings, it becomes evident that the search for novel bacterial AMPs from the commensal microbiota on the skin surface is of utmost importance. These AMPs have the potential to selectively inhibit the growth of S. aureus while maintaining a healthy commensal microbiota and modulating the immune response. This offers significant potential for advancing treatment options for AD.
#Mythoughts#Pets: Canine atopic dermatitis shares remarkable similarities with that observed in humans. Therefore, I firmly believe that modulating the skin microbiota in atopic dogs holds significant promise for innovative treatments!
Full article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9907850/
About the author
Dr. Aline Santana is a Brazilian veterinarian with over 12 years of experience in both research and private dermatology practice. In 2021, she completed her PhD in veterinary dermatology at the University of São Paulo (Brazil), with a sandwich period at the University of Minnesota, where she conducted research on the skin microbiome of cats. Since 2012, she has been an active member of the Brazilian Society of Veterinary Dermatology (SBDV). From 2015 to 2021, Dr. Santana served as the director of social media marketing, contributing to the organization's outreach and communication efforts.
