Acne is a common dermatological condition, particularly amongst teenagers, with a large unmet medical need because of the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the significant side effects of current treatments. R-type bacteriocins, or contractile nanotubes (CNTs), are bactericidal proteins released by certain bacteria to confer a competitive advantage over related strains or other species. The receptor-binding protein in a CNT provides target specificity, working in concert with the contractile scaffold to puncture the target cell, depolarizing the membrane, causing ion leakage and ultimately cell death. Altering the receptor-binding protein can retarget the novel hybrid CNT to the target bacteria of choice. We will collaborate with AvidBiotics to utilize their CNT platform t engineer the receptor-binding domains specific for P. acnes, the primary opportunistic pathogen causally linked to acne, onto the contractile structural scaffolds of CNTs derived from Gram-positive bacteria such as C. difficile. We therefore aim to create novel hybrid CNTs that would only attack P. acnes. Success in this proof-of-concept proposal will lead to further development of these antimicrobial proteins as effective acne therapeutics superior to current treatments.
Dermalytica Inc. aims to develop novel and more effective treatments for acne, a major dermatological condition particularly amongst teenagers that faces increasing incidence of resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics. We will adapt and modify 'natural anti-microbial' proteins to specifically target the bacterial that causes acne. Success in this proof-of-concept proposal will lead to further development of these agents as more effective therapeutics for acne.
