Developing an Alternative Acne Treatment Based on Antimicrobial Bacteriocins

Presenter

Adam Michael Charest

Group Members

Adam G. Yi, Benjamin Vengalil, Kosi Chugbo-Junius, Morgan Elizabeth Lance

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Margaret Riley, Department of Biology, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C6, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 1 (C1-C10) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Our aim is to develop a bacteriocin based topical gel to safely and effectively clear Acne Vulgaris infections. Antibiotic and retinol based acne treatments are rapidly becoming ineffective against the acne causing bacteria Cutibacterium acnes, creating an urgent need for alternative treatments. Current therapies have a plethora of symptoms and they most do not even target the bacteria responsible for the lesions, bumps and pimples that many young and mature adults experience. Our bacteriocin based treatment utilizes nisin, a naturally produced antimicrobial, to kill Cutibacterium acnes at very low drug concentrations. Nisin has long been used as a preservative in the dairy industry, but has time and time again shown to be applicable to treating human pathogens. Through testing wildly isolating C. acnes strains from volunteers, we have proven that nisin kills at low concentrations and that it can be delivered in an easy to apply hydrogel format. We have also characterized the existing resistance of clindamycin and erythromycin of these wild isolates to show a direct comparison of our drug versus commonly used treatments. Our drug has shown high sensitivity in every strain tested while in several strains clindamycin or erythromycin has been completely ineffective. Our treatment, coined NisinClear, stands to challenge the failing acne treatment industry and provide an impactful product to combat acne.

Keywords

antimicrobial resistance, bacteriocin, acne, alternative treatment, microbiome

Research Area

Disease Detection, Prevention & Treatment

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