Hope for new anti-bacterial wound cream

Friday July 29th, 2016

A new skin cream could boost the effectiveness of wound care in preventing bacterial infection, researchers at Sheffield University have reported.

Scientists at the university have been testing the use of tetraspanin proteins.

The proteins make skin cells much less "sticky" for bacteria, the researchers say.

So far it has been tested on 3D tissue-engineered skin, developed by the university's engineers.

Researcher Dr Pete Monk, an infection specialist, said the development was a "huge breakthrough."

He said: “Skin infections, such as bed-sores and ulcers, can be incredibly troubling for patients who may already be dealing with debilitating conditions. They are also a significant problem for modern healthcare.

“We hope that this new therapy can be used to help relieve the burden of skin infections on both patients and health services while also providing a new insight into how we might defeat the threat of antimicrobial drug resistance.

“The therapy could be administered to patients using a gel or cream and could work well as a dressing. We’re hoping it can reach clinical trials stage in the next three to five years.”

Peptides from Tetraspanin CD9 Are Potent Inhibitors of Staphylococcus Aureus Adherence to Keratinocytes PLOSOne 29 July 2016

Tags: Dermatology | Pharmaceuticals | UK News

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