Dr. Aaron Tan, an NTU research fellow, explains that E. faecalis relies on a metabolic process called extracellular electron transport to continuously generate hydrogen peroxide, which causes oxidative stress and damages living tissue. Laboratory experiments showed that this stress triggers the unfolded protein response in keratinocytes the skin cells responsible for repair slowing protein production to allow recovery. However, this response also effectively paralyzes the cells, preventing them from migrating to close the wound. When the researchers used a genetically modified strain of E. faecalis that could not produce hydrogen peroxide, the bacterium was no longer able to block wound healing. They then demonstrated that neutralizing the hydrogen peroxide with catalase, a naturally occurring antioxidant enzyme, reduced cellular stress and restored the skin cells’ ability to migrate and heal.

Prof. Thibault, who also serves as assistant dean of international engagement at NTU’s College of Science, said the discovery that the bacterium’s metabolism itself acts as a weapon was unexpected, and it opens a new approach to treating chronic wounds. Rather than relying on antibiotics which are increasingly ineffective and contribute to resistance researchers can neutralize the bacteria by blocking the harmful metabolic byproducts and restoring wound healing. The findings, published on Jan 17 in Science Advances, suggest that catalase-infused wound dressings could be an effective treatment, and because catalase is already widely used and well understood, this strategy could move more quickly from lab research to clinical application than developing a new drug. Dr. Tan noted that the study used human skin cells, making the results directly relevant to human physiology and potentially paving the way for new treatments for non-healing wounds. Given Singapore’s growing diabetes burden with over 400,000 people affected and rising chronic wound cases this research is particularly timely, as the country faces one of the highest diabetes-related amputation rates globally. Adjunct Assoc. Prof. Timothy Barkham of Tan Tock Seng Hospital emphasized that while the findings are not yet a ready therapy, they offer a promising direction for further study, and the NTU team plans to move toward human clinical trials after ongoing animal studies identify the best way to deliver antioxidants.

Source: https://asianews.network/singapore-study-finds-new-way-to-disarm-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-hasten-healing-of-chronic-wounds/