盡管MRSA對(duì)于患者來(lái)說(shuō)，是一個(gè)重大威脅，來(lái)自疾病控制和預(yù)防中心（CDC）的研究表明，醫(yī)療機(jī)構(gòu)里面危及生命的MRSA感染正在不斷減少。

MRSA的傳播通常通過(guò)直接接觸感染傷口或是被污染的手。研究表明，每100個(gè)人當(dāng)中就有2人的鼻子攜帶MRSA，然而他們沒(méi)有出現(xiàn)任何感染跡象，卻可以將該細(xì)菌傳播給其他人。

曾經(jīng)在3D人造皮膚的人類模型進(jìn)行的試驗(yàn)顯示，蛋白質(zhì)能夠防止細(xì)菌感染，研究人員指出該治療可以安全有效地用于人類。

四次跨膜蛋白可使有害細(xì)菌被沖走

來(lái)自謝菲爾德大學(xué)材料科學(xué)與工程系的Sheila MacNeil教授曾經(jīng)設(shè)計(jì)了人造皮膚，創(chuàng)建了可用于模擬成人正常皮膚組織結(jié)構(gòu)的模型，包括感染傷口。這種皮膚模型可以用來(lái)分析細(xì)菌和肽類的滲透性。

在與英國(guó)AGE合作的過(guò)程中，來(lái)自謝菲爾德大學(xué)的研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)，在發(fā)生感染時(shí)，細(xì)菌通過(guò)控制“粘片”緊貼著皮膚細(xì)胞——通過(guò)利用一種被稱為四次跨膜蛋白的蛋白質(zhì)——該粘片的粘性降低，從而使細(xì)菌容易被沖走。

“這一進(jìn)展是對(duì)抗抗生素耐藥性取得的一個(gè)重大突破，”來(lái)自該大學(xué)心血管、免疫、感染科學(xué)系的Pete Monk博士如是說(shuō)。他領(lǐng)導(dǎo)了這項(xiàng)研究。

他指出，皮膚感染，包括褥瘡和潰瘍，可能是那些極度衰弱患者需要關(guān)注的，它已被證明對(duì)現(xiàn)代醫(yī)療保健來(lái)說(shuō)也是一個(gè)重大問(wèn)題。

“我們希望這種新的治療方法可以用來(lái)幫助減輕患者和醫(yī)療機(jī)構(gòu)由于皮膚感染造成的負(fù)擔(dān)，同時(shí)也可以為我們?nèi)绾螒?zhàn)勝抗菌藥物耐藥性所致的威脅提供一個(gè)新的觀點(diǎn)。”Pete Monk博士如是說(shuō)。

Monk補(bǔ)充說(shuō)，該療法可以以凝膠或乳霜的方式給藥，也可以用作敷料。“我們希望它能在未來(lái)3到5年內(nèi)達(dá)到臨床試驗(yàn)階段，”他總結(jié)道。

與抗生素相反，四次跨膜蛋白并不是直接殺死細(xì)菌，因此，不會(huì)促使產(chǎn)生抗生素耐藥性。

(譯自MNS，作者 Hannah Nichols，原文如下) 

"Superbug" is a term invented by the media to describe bacteria that cannot be killed using multiple antibiotics. These bacteria are "antibiotic resistant" and have proven particularly problematic in healthcare settings where they increase the risk of worse clinical outcomes and death.

A high percentage of hospital-acquired infections are caused by highly resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). People with MRSA are estimated to be 64 percent more likely to die than individuals with a non-resistant form of the infection.

Although MRSA is a significant threat to patients, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that life-threatening MRSA infections in healthcare settings are declining.

MRSA is usually spread by direct contact with an infected wound or from contaminated hands. Studies show that 2 in 100 people carry MRSA in their nose without any signs of infection and can spread the bacteria to others.

The research was trialed in a human model of 3D tissue engineered skin and showed that the proteins prevented bacterial infections, and indicated that the treatment was both safe and effective for use in humans.

Tetraspanin proteins allowed harmful bacteria to be washed away

Prof. Sheila MacNeil, from the University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, who engineered the skin, created the model to mimic the tissue structure of normal adult skin, including infected wounds. The skin can be used to analyze the penetration of peptides and bacteria.

In collaboration with AGE U.K., researchers from the University of Sheffield showed that while infection is launched by bacteria tightly attaching to skin cells by hijacking "sticky patches" - by using proteins called tetraspanins from human cells - the patches are made less sticky, allowing bacteria to be washed away.

"This development is a huge breakthrough in the fight against antibiotic-resistance," says Dr. Pete Monk from the University's Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Science, who led the study.

He notes that skin infections, including bedsores and ulcers, can be concerning for patients who may already have debilitating conditions, and have proven to be 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."

 

Dr. Pete Monk

Monk adds that the therapy could be administered in the form of a gel or cream, and could also work well as a dressing. "We're hoping it can reach clinical trials stage in the next 3 to 5 years," he concludes.

In contrast to antibiotics, tetraspanin proteins do not directly kill bacteria, and, as a result, do not encourage the evolution of antibiotic resistance.