The Translational Synthetic Biology lab of the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS-UPF) has published an important advance in synthetic biology with skin bacteria. Specifically, they have managed to modify the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes so that it secretes and produces molecules to treat acne.
The technique they have developed could be used to treat various skin conditions by avoiding the use of drugs that destabilise the skin microbiome.
In this video, Nastassia Knödlseder, lead author of the study, explains their results and potential applications.
Reference article
Knödlseder, N.J, et al., Delivery of a sebum modulator by an engineered skin microbe in mice. Nat. Biotechnol. 2024. Jan. doi.org/10.1038/s41587-023-02072-4
About the author
Laura Valdés-Sánchez is a biologist with a PhD in Science Education. She has been working as a university professor and teacher trainer in the field of eco-social education for several years. She is now specialising in science communication by taking the Master’s degree in Scientific, Medical and Environmental Communication at UPF-BSM.
