Synthetically Programmed Antioxidant Delivery by a Domesticated Skin Commensal
February 2025
in “
Cell Systems
”
Cutibacterium acnes hair follicles dermal biotechnological applications gene expression biocontainment markerless genetic engineering transcriptional regulation antioxidant-secreting strain oxidative stress UV stress model bacteria dynamic delivery system skin treatments C. acnes skin bacteria antioxidants UV protection skin care
TLDR Engineered bacteria can deliver antioxidants to protect skin.
The study presents a genetic toolkit for engineering Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) to develop microbiome-based skin therapies. Researchers created an antioxidant-secreting strain of C. acnes that reduces oxidative stress in a UV stress model, demonstrating its potential for therapeutic applications. The toolkit includes gene expression tools, biocontainment strategies, and dynamic transcriptional regulation. The study also explores CRISPR interference for gene function analysis and biocontainment, creating auxotrophic strains without antibiotic resistance. This work highlights C. acnes as a promising chassis for engineered live biotherapeutic products (eLBPs) due to its abundance and stability in the skin.
