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Apr 29 2025
1A team of researchers at the University of Oregon has identified a powerful antimicrobial compound produced by a type of yeast that naturally inhabits human skin. The discovery could lead to new strategies to combat Staphylococcus aureus, a common yet potentially dangerous bacterium responsible for approximately 500,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States.
The study, published in Current Biology, focused on Malassezia, a genus of fungi known for thriving on human skin by consuming the oils and fats present there. The research team, led by postdoctoral scientist Caitlin Kowalski, found that Malassezia sympodialis produces hydroxy fatty acids capable of selectively destroying S. aureus—a bacterium that, while harmless in one-third of people, can cause severe infections when it enters through cuts or abrasions.
“S. aureus is a major contributor to skin and soft tissue infections and has become notorious in hospital settings for its resistance to existing antibiotics,” said Kowalski. “Our work presents a fresh perspective by looking to resident fungi for possible therapeutic compounds.”
Interestingly, the molecule discovered by the team is not new to science. “What made our study exciting was not just the discovery of a novel molecule, but the realization that a familiar compound exhibits potent antibiotic properties under the right conditions,” Kowalski explained. The compound proved non-toxic in standard laboratory settings but became highly effective under acidic conditions—mimicking the natural pH of human skin.
This detail may explain why such antimicrobial activity has gone unnoticed in previous research. “We often miss these interactions because lab conditions don’t accurately reflect the human body’s environment,” Kowalski said. “Human skin is naturally acidic, and that appears to be key to the compound’s effectiveness.”
While the human microbiome includes countless microorganisms, relatively little is known about the fungal inhabitants of the skin. Unlike the gut, which supports a diverse array of fungal species, the skin is mainly colonized by Malassezia. Though linked to dandruff and eczema in some cases, this yeast is usually considered benign.
Kowalski and her collaborators discovered that Malassezia sympodialis transforms host lipids into detergent-like hydroxy fatty acids that disrupt bacterial cell membranes. These compounds were able to kill S. aureus in as little as 15 minutes during lab tests.
However, the fungus isn't a silver bullet. With prolonged exposure, the staph bacteria began developing tolerance to the compound. Genetic analysis revealed mutations in the Rel gene, which is known to trigger bacterial stress responses and has been observed in clinical infections. This finding underscores how environmental interactions and microbial competition can influence antibiotic resistance.
“There’s growing interest in using microbes therapeutically to suppress harmful pathogens,” Kowalski said. “But these interactions are complex, and we’re only beginning to understand the implications.”
The study took three years and involved a collaborative effort with chemical microbiologists at McMaster University. “It was like searching for a needle in a haystack, except we were looking for invisible molecules,” said Matthew Barber, associate professor of biology at the University of Oregon and Kowalski’s adviser.
Kowalski is now preparing to open her own lab to further explore the skin microbiome’s role in human health and disease. Her upcoming work will delve deeper into the genetic underpinnings of microbial resistance.
“Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health crisis,” said Barber. “This study opens up exciting possibilities, but also reminds us of the complexity of microbial ecosystems. We have much more to learn.”
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-04-fungi-human-skin-antibiotics.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
