Novel probiotic and immunotherapy approaches for infection of human skin by Staphylococcus

With the rise of antimicrobial resistance, the pursuit of novel approaches for infection treatment and control is intensifying. It has been suggested that understanding and exploiting the native responses of the host tissue may be a way forward.

In this project, we focus on the mechanisms by which human skin recognizes, responds to and typically controls potential bacterial pathogens.

From a bacterial perspective, we are studying how the skin microbiota modulates the growth of clinically relevant bacteria such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA), as a potential new probiotics approach.

We will also study lesser-described innate tissue defensive mechanisms including resident immune cell modulation and nerve-driven immunity.

We will trial how current immunotherapies can influence the tissue response to bacteria, with the intent to enhance innate tissue defense.

A major focus of this work is human skin tissue, with the use of innovative humanized skin models both in vivo and in vitro. These models will be complemented with an array of imaging, microbiological, immunological and chemistry techniques.

The short-term aim is to understand these physiological mechanisms so that in the longer term we can use our models to validate developed antimicrobial and immunomodulatory treatments based on our findings.

The human focus of this work will shorten the translation of this work to facilitate clinical and societal impact within the foreseeable future.