A Novel Effective Formulation of Bioactive Compounds for Wound Healing: Preparation, In Vivo Characterization, and Comparison of Various Postbiotics Cold Creams in a Rat Model

Postbiotic metabolites derived from lactobacillus fermentum as potent antiproliferative bioresources on HeLa cells with promising biocompatibility

Chemotherapy administrations for cervical malignancy possess a variety of unfavorable influences on the human body. Scientists are interested in microbial-derived biomolecules or postbiotics as an alternative therapeutic strategy in malignant patients. This research investigated the mechanisms related to the function of two potential postbiotic Lactobacillus isolates, Lactobacillus fermentum CH and L. fermentum KH, isolated from indigenous Iranian dairy products. The Lactobacillus isolates were recognized through 16S rDNA sequence analysis followed by characterization using morphological and biochemical assays. The bioactivity of postbiotics on the cervical cancer model was also assessed through a cytotoxic study and apoptosis analysis. In addition, the anticancer activity was evaluated by qPCR, followed by a confirmation of the flow cytometry. The results of the bioactivity assay revealed that these postbiotics had suitable anticancer influences on the cervical cancer model (HeLa cells) by increasing BAX, caspase8, and caspase9, followed by a decrease in BCl-2, iKB (Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B), and RelA gene expressions. Thus, the findings of this study signify that the postbiotic derivate from Lactobacillus strains isolated from indigenous Iranian dairy products could be regarded as a topical treatment with a promising curative index due to their effectiveness on cervical malignancy cells.

A Postbiotic Formulation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CRL 759 Attenuates Endotoxin Induced Uveitis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of a cell-free supernatant from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CRL 759, in phosphate buffer modified according to Sorensen called POF-759.

METHODS

The activity of POF-759 administered by means of eye drops was evaluated on animals subcutaneously injected with the lipopolysaccharide animals in which uveitis was induced by a subcutaneous injection of lipopolysaccharide (EIU). Clinical signs of ocular inflammation, cytokines and proteins were examined in the aqueous humor. Additionally, cellular infiltration was evaluated by histopathological analysis.

RESULTS

The new postbiotic administered locally decreases signs of ocular damage, the number of infiltrating cells in the anterior and posterior chambers, the proinflammatory mediators and the proteins in the aqueous humor on mice with EIU.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide an impetus to relieve ocular inflammation and to identify and develop preventive and therapeutic approaches, to avoid deterioration and to maintain healthy eyes on inflammatory processes.

A comparative study of the established methods and evaluation of rat trauma models

BACKGROUND

Scientific animal models are indispensable for studying trauma repair. This work aimed at establishing a more scientific rat trauma model by studying different rat trauma models caused by different trauma numbers, locations, and trauma attachment tension unloaders and rat age.

METHODS

A four-trauma self-upper, lower, left and right control model; a two-trauma self-trauma bare and ring control model; and a young and old rat trauma model were created to evaluate the condition of these traumas.

RESULTS

In the four-trauma self-control model, the healing status of the upper proximal cephalic trauma was better than that of the lower proximal caudal trauma, whereas there was no significant difference between the left and right trauma. The healing rate and postwound condition of the trauma with a ring control in the two-trauma model were better than those of the bare side. The healing speed of the old rats was slower, and the amount of extracellular matrix in the subcutaneous tissue after healing was significantly lower than that of the young rats.

CONCLUSION

The double trauma with a ring is a more scientific and reasonable experimental model. There is a significant difference between young and old rats in the wound healing process. Therefore, the appropriate age of the rats should be selected according to the main age range of the patients with similar conditions in the clinical setting being mimicked.

Trinitroglycerin-loaded chitosan nanogels accelerate angiogenesis in wound healing process

Trinitroglycerin (TNG) with remarkable angiogenic, antibacterial, and antioxidative activity is a promising candidate to govern wound healing capacity. However, its clinical administration is limited due to associated complications and NO short half-life. In the current study, TNG-loaded chitosan nanogels (TNG-Ngs) were examined in-vitro and in-vivo to gain insight into their clinical application. We prepared TNG-Ngs and characterized their physiochemical properties. The potential of TNG-Ngs was assessed using biocompatibility, scratch assay, and a full-thickness skin wounds model, followed by histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations. TNG-Ngs particle size 96 ± 18 and definite size distribution histogram. The loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of prepared TNG-Ngs were 70.2 % and 2.1 %, respectively. The TNG-Ngs samples showed enhanced migration of HUVECs with no apparent cytotoxicity. The topical use of TNG-Ngs200 on the wounds revealed a complete wound closure ratio, skin component formation, less scar width, remarkable granulation tissue, promoted collagen deposition, and enhanced the relative mean density of α-SMA and CD31. TNG-Ngs accelerated wound healing by promoting collagen deposition and angiogenic activity, as well as reducing inflammation. The findings indicated that TNG-Ngs is expected to be well vascularized in the wound area and to be more effective in topical therapy.

A critical review of novel antibiotic resistance prevention approaches with a focus on postbiotics

Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health issue, causing illnesses that were once easily treatable with antibiotics to develop into dangerous infections, leading to substantial disability and even death. To help fight this growing threat, scientists are developing new methods and techniques that play a crucial role in treating infections and preventing the inappropriate use of antibiotics. These effective therapeutic methods include phage therapies, quorum-sensing inhibitors, immunotherapeutics, predatory bacteria, antimicrobial adjuvants, haemofiltration, nanoantibiotics, microbiota transplantation, plant-derived antimicrobials, RNA therapy, vaccine development, and probiotics. As a result of the activity of probiotics in the intestine, compounds derived from the structure and metabolism of these bacteria are obtained, called postbiotics, which include multiple agents with various therapeutic applications, especially antimicrobial effects, by using different mechanisms. These compounds have been chosen in particular because they don't promote the spread of antibiotic resistance and don't include substances that can increase antibiotic resistance. This manuscript provides an overview of the novel approaches to preventing antibiotic resistance with emphasis on the various postbiotic metabolites derived from the gut beneficial microbes, their activities, recent related progressions in the food and medical fields, as well as concisely giving an insight into the new concept of postbiotics as "hyperpostbiotic".

A potential therapeutic strategy of an innovative probiotic formulation toward topical treatment of diabetic ulcer: an in vivo study

BACKGROUND

The probiotic potential of Lacticacid bacteria has been studied in various medical complications, from gastrointestinal diseases to antibiotic resistance infections recently. Moreover, diabetic ulcer (DU) is known as one of the most significant global healthcare concerns, which comprehensively impacts the quality of life for these patients. Given that the conventional treatments of DUs have failed to prevent later complications completely, developing alternative therapies seems to be crucial.

METHODS

We designed the stable oleogel-based formulation of viable probiotic cells, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus), Lactobacillus casei (L. casei), Lactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum), and Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) individually to investigate their effect on wound healing process as an in vivo study. The wound repair process was closely monitored regarding morphology, biochemical, and histopathological changes over two weeks and compared it with the effects of topical tetracycline as an antibiotic approach. Furthermore, the antibiofilm activity of probiotic bacteria was assessed against some common pathogens.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that all tested lactobacillus groups (excluded L. casei) included in the oleogel-based formulation revealed a high potential for repairing damaged skin due to the considerably more levels of hydroxyproline content of tissue samples along with the higher numerical density of mature fibroblasts cell and volume density of hair follicles, collagen fibrils, and neovascularization in comparison with antibiotic and control groups. L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus showed the best potential of wound healing among all lactobacillus species, groups treated by tetracycline and control groups. Besides, L. rhamnosus showed a significant biofilm inhibition activity against tested pathogens.

CONCLUSIONS

This experiment demonstrated that the designed formulations containing probiotics, particularly L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus, play a central role in manipulating diabetic wound healing. It could be suggested as an encouraging nominee for diabetic wound-healing alternative approaches, though further studies in detailed clinical trials are needed.

Postbiotics-peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acid, exopolysaccharides, surface layer protein and pili proteins-Structure, activity in wounds and their delivery systems

Chronic wound healing is a pressing global public health concern. Abuse and drug resistance of antibiotics are the key problems in the treatment of chronic wounds at present. Postbiotics are a novel promising strategy. Previous studies have reported that postbiotics have a wide range of biological activities including antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities. However, several aspects related to these postbiotic activities remain unexplored or poorly known. Therefore, this work aims to outline general aspects and emerging trends in the use of postbiotics for wound healing, such as the production, characterization, biological activities and delivery strategies of postbiotics. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the physiological activities and structures of postbiotic biomolecules that contribute to wound healing is provided, such as peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acid, bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides, surface layer proteins, pili proteins, and secretory proteins (p40 and p75 proteins). Considering the presence of readily degradable components in postbiotics, potential natural polymer delivery materials and delivery systems are emphasized, followed by the potential applications and commercialization prospects of postbiotics. These findings suggest that the treatment of chronic wounds with postbiotic ingredients will help provide new insights into wound healing and better guidance for the development of postbiotic products.

Inhibitory Effects of Fermented Sprouted Oat Extracts on Oxidative Stress and Melanin Overproduction

Hyperpigmentation occurs due to irregular secretion of melanin pigment in the skin. This can affect quality of life depending on its severity, so prevention and management are essential. Oats (Avena sativa L.), a grain consumed worldwide, are known to offer improved health benefits upon germination and fermentation. This study is aimed to investigate the protective effects of lactobacilli-fermented sprouted oat extracts on oxidative stress and melanin overproduction in vitro. The anti-melanogenic effect was investigated using melanin content and tyrosinase activity assays in B16F10 cells, as well as a mushroom tyrosinase-based enzyme inhibition assay. The results showed that L. casei-fermented oat extracts were the most effective for reducing melanin formation by reducing the mRNA expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related protein 2. Furthermore, L. casei fermentation was effective in improving the total phenolic, flavonoid, and avenanthramide A contents of sprouted oat extracts. The results also demonstrated the antioxidant effects of L. casei-fermented sprouted oat extracts in promoting DPPH radical-scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase-like activity, and reduction in reactive oxygen species levels. Overall, the findings indicate that fermented sprouted oat extracts are promising candidates for antioxidant and anti-hyperpigmentation treatments.

The Real-World Effectiveness and Tolerability of a Soothing Cream Containing the Postbiotic Aquaphilus dolomiae Extract-G2 for Skin Healing

INTRODUCTION

In vitro and pre-marketing clinical data have shown the healing properties of a postbiotic extract from Aquaphilus dolomiae (ADE-G2). The effectiveness and tolerability of an ADE-G2-based cream were therefore evaluated for the management of minor skin impairment and wound healing in a large population of subjects in routine clinical practice.

METHODS

A real-world, international, pre-post comparative study was conducted in infants, children, and adults with various types of superficial skin impairment who used the study product daily for around 3 weeks according to their dermatologist's advice. Immediate and follow-up changes in dermatologic signs and symptoms were assessed through clinical scoring. User satisfaction, overall product effectiveness, and tolerability were also evaluated. Analyses were performed in the whole study population and in subject subgroups according to skin impairment type and age.

RESULTS

Overall, 1317 subjects (83.1% adults, 72.0% female) were included. Dermatologists reported effectiveness and "good" or "very good" tolerability of the cream in 93.8% (1221/1302) and 98.5% (1278/1297) of subjects, respectively. Immediate symptom relief after the first application was reported by 88.3% (849/962) of subjects. After several weeks of regular use (16.7 ± 11.6 days), dermatologic signs and symptoms significantly improved in the whole study population and in the subgroups, with mean decreases in severity scores ranging from -34.5% to -92.5% (p < 0.0001). The smallest improvements were found in subjects with oncologic treatment-related skin impairment. At study end, most users (> 95%) were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the cream and found that skin healing was rapid and of good quality.

CONCLUSION

The ADE-G2-based cream proved to be effective and well tolerated in real-life conditions for the management of minor skin impairment in a large and varied cohort of subjects. This product, used as a standalone or adjunctive regimen, can help accelerate the healing of various types of superficial skin impairment.

Innovative Approaches for Maintaining and Enhancing Skin Health and Managing Skin Diseases through Microbiome-Targeted Strategies

The skin microbiome is crucial in maintaining skin health, and its disruption is associated with various skin diseases. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers and compounds found in certain foods that promote the activity and growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut or skin. On the other hand, live microorganisms, known as probiotics, benefit in sustaining healthy conditions when consumed in reasonable quantities. They differ from postbiotics, which are by-product compounds from bacteria that release the same effects as their parent bacteria. The human skin microbiome is vital when it comes to maintaining skin health and preventing a variety of dermatological conditions. This review explores novel strategies that use microbiome-targeted treatments to maintain and enhance overall skin health while managing various skin disorders. It is important to understand the dynamic relationship between these beneficial microorganisms and the diverse microbial communities present on the skin to create effective strategies for using probiotics on the skin. This understanding can help optimize formulations and treatment regimens for improved outcomes in skincare, particularly in developing solutions for various skin problems.

Using chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, and gelatin-based smart biological hydrogels for drug delivery in oral mucosal lesions: A review

AIMS

Oral mucosal diseases can lead to pain, difficulty speaking and eating, psychological distress, and cancer. Topical drug delivery using biological macromolecules, specifically hydrogels, is gaining interest due to the drawbacks of conventional treatments for oral mucosal lesions.

SCOPE

Biological hydrogels made from natural polymers and their derivatives, such as chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, and gelatin, represent promising alternatives to conventional oral medication delivery methods. Topical drug delivery is beneficial for oral mucosal lesions as it can directly target the affected area, especially with the development of smart stimuli-responsive hydrogels, which allow for more controlled drug release. Biological hydrogels have already been used to deliver drugs like lidocaine and nystatin. This review summarizes the current research on applying smart natural polymer-based hydrogels for drug delivery in oral mucosal lesions.

CONCLUSION

Smart biological hydrogels show great promise as topical drug delivery systems for oral mucosal lesions, offering sustained drug release, increased therapeutic efficacy, and minimized systemic complications. Technological advancement is expected to lead to the development of more effective and safer drug delivery systems. The potential benefits of biological polymer-based hydrogels make them an exciting area of research for oral mucosal lesion treatment.

Microneedling with a Novel, n-3-PUFA-Rich Formulation Accelerates Inflammation Resolution to Improve Skin Recovery Outcomes in Adults with Healthy Skin

INTRODUCTION

Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that leverages the skin's natural ability to heal in order to promote collagen formation and skin rejuvenation. To provide improved results, the technique can be combined with topical formulations. A new formulation of multiple actives, including omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), was designed to accelerate the resolution of inflammation and wound healing following micro-injury treatments, while enhancing the visible appearance of procedure results, including erythema, luminosity and skin texture.

METHODS

In this randomised, controlled, split-face study, we examined 32 healthy female participants aged 30-70 years for 4 weeks following microneedling treatment with a novel multiple-active-ingredient formulation or conventional microneedling protocol with a hyaluronic acid control serum. Changes in skin condition were assessed by blinded clinical photography and expert evaluation. Measurements were collected at baseline, 1 h, 1 day, 7 days and 28 days post treatment.

RESULTS

Significantly greater improvements in expert-assessed erythema, luminosity and skin texture were reported following application of the novel multiple-active-ingredient formulation than the hyaluronic acid control serum. This was confirmed by representative VISIA®-CR imaging.

CONCLUSION

These data provide new evidence for the role of a novel multiple-active-ingredient formulation for improving skin outcomes up to 28 days following microneedling in adults with healthy skin when compared with a hyaluronic acid serum. The n-3 PUFA content of this formulation may drive accelerated inflammation resolution and wound healing alongside the complementary action of the other active ingredients, leading to the observed improvements in erythema, luminosity and skin texture.

Pharmacotechnical aspects of a stable probiotic formulation toward multidrug-resistance antibacterial activity: design and quality control

As a well-known group of the probiotic family, the Lactobacillus has increasingly contributed to hindering the growth of pathogens, particularly resistant species, in the last decades. Since antibiotic resistance has become a severe problem in global healthcare systems and considerably increased the mortality and morbidity rate in infectious diseases, we aimed to obtain a new stable formulation of Lactobacillus to overcome resistant infections. For this purpose, we designed various gel formulations containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in a water base and oil base gel, evaluated the probiotic stability in formulation to obtain an optimum formulation, and finally, investigated the antibacterial activities of that against two common hospital-associated multidrug-resistant pathogens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Furthermore, the pharmaceutical aspects of the optimum formulation, including stability, homogeneity, spreadability, pH value, conductivity, and rheological behavior, were assessed.The results indicated that the optimum formulation based on glycerol exhibited desirable pharmaceutical properties, including long-term stability, a perfect level of homogeneity, an acceptable range of spreadability with pseudo-plastic thixotropic behavior, and a promising antibacterial potential against MRSA and VRE. Our findings indicate that this novel probiotic formulation could be an excellent candidate to cope with antibiotic-resistant species, representing a hopeful treatment potential for topical applications, particularly in incurable infections. However, further in vivo studies seem warranted to evaluate their bactericidal activity against multi-drug resistant microorganisms.

The ameliorating effect of limosilactobacillus fermentum and its supernatant postbiotic on cisplatin-induced chronic kidney disease in an animal model

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem affecting millions of people. Probiotics and postbiotics are associated with valuable compounds with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects, preserving renal function in CKD patients. The current study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Limosilactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum) and its postbiotic in an animal model of cisplatin-induced CKD.

METHODS

The animals were divided into four experimental groups (normal mice, CKD mice with no treatment, CKD mice with probiotic treatment, and CKD mice with postbiotic treatment). CKD mice were induced by a single dose of cisplatin 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. For 28 days, the cultured probiotic bacteria and its supernatant (postbiotic) were delivered freshly to the related groups through their daily water. Then, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) of plasma samples as well as glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species, and total antioxidant capacity of kidneys were assessed in the experimental mice groups. In addition, histopathological studies were performed on the kidneys.

RESULTS

Application of L. fermentum probiotic, and especially postbiotics, significantly decreased BUN and Cr (P < 0.0001) as well as ROS formation and lipid peroxidation levels (P < 0.0001) along with increased total antioxidant capacity and GSH levels (P < 0.001). The histopathologic images also confirmed their renal protection effect. Interestingly, the postbiotic displayed more effectiveness than the probiotic in some assays. The improvement effect on renal function in the current model is mainly mediated by oxidative stress markers in the renal tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, it was found that the administration of L. fermentum probiotic, and particularly its postbiotic in cisplatin-induced CKD mice, showed promising effects and could successfully improve renal function in the animal model of CKD. Therefore, probiotics and postbiotics are considered as probably promising alternative supplements to be used for CKD.

Oral and Topical Probiotics and Postbiotics in Skincare and Dermatological Therapy: A Concise Review

The skin microbiota is a pivotal contributor to the maintenance of skin homeostasis by protecting it from harmful pathogens and regulating the immune system. An imbalance in the skin microbiota can lead to pathological conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. The balance of the skin microbiota components can be disrupted by different elements and dynamics such as changes in pH levels, exposure to environmental toxins, and the use of certain skincare products. Some research suggests that certain probiotic strains and their metabolites (postbiotics) may provide benefits such as improving the skin barrier function, reducing inflammation, and improving the appearance of acne-prone or eczema-prone skin. Consequently, in recent years probiotics and postbiotics have become a popular ingredient in skincare products. Moreover, it was demonstrated that skin health can be influenced by the skin-gut axis, and imbalances in the gut microbiome caused by poor diet, stress, or the use of antibiotics can lead to skin conditions. In this way, products that improve gut microbiota balance have been gaining attention from cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies. The present review will focus on the crosstalk between the SM and the host, and its effects on health and diseases.

Wound healing and microbiome, an unexpected relationship

Skin wounds are common and represent a major public health and economical problem, with risks of complications and a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients. Cutaneous wound healing is a tightly regulated process resulting in the restoration of tissue integrity. Wound healing involves the interaction of several skin, immune and vascular cells, growth factors and cytokines. However, external actors can play an important role in wound healing, such as the skin microbiome, which is the microbial commensal collection of bacteria, fungi and viruses inhabiting the skin. Indeed, recent advances have featured the interactions, within the wound environment, between different microbial species and between microbial species and the host immune system. This article reviews the relationship between the skin microbiome and the wound healing process. Although cutaneous wounds are a potential entry site for infection, the wound microbiome can have either a detrimental or a beneficial role on wound healing. Thus, targeting the skin microbiome could represent an essential part of wound healing management.

The ameliorative role of specific probiotic combinations on bone loss in the ovariectomized rat model

Background

Osteoporosis, a skeletal disease described by impaired bone strength, cause an increased risk of fractures. We aimed in this study to clarify which particular wise combination of probiotics has the most beneficial effect in the rat model of osteoporosis.

Methods

Sixty-three mature female Sprague Dawley rats (12–14 weeks old, weight 200 ± 20 g) were ovariectomized and then divided into nine random groups, each group consisting of 7 rats. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from traditional fermented yogurt on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf. Seven combinations of probiotics, each containing three probiotic strains, were designed and administered (1 × 10 9 CFU / ml/strain daily along with their water) to treat ovariectomized rats. The period from ovariectomy to eutanásia was 3 months. For evaluating femur, spine, and tibia, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC), Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were performed. Also, effect of probiotic combinations was assessed on biochemical markers including vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase in serum.

Results

Combination NO 4, containing L. acidophilus, B. longum, and L. reuteri, is the most influential group on global, spine, and femur BMD. Combination NO 3, containing L. acidophilus, L. casei, and L. reuteri, also significantly affects the BMD of the tibia among the treatment group. We found that the combination NO 4 had the most significant ameliorative effect on global BMC. Also, combination NO 1 (comprising L. acidophilus, L. casei, and B. longum), NO 6 (containing L. casei, B. longum, and Bacillus coagulans), NO 7 (containing L. casei, L. reuteri, and B. longum), and NO 4 had the most considerable raising effect on spine BMC. In addition, the serum calcium and Vitamin D concentration in the groups NO 4, 6, and 7 were significantly higher than in OVX groups, whereas the alkaline phosphatase concentration was considerably reduced in these groups.

Conclusion

Among nine effective probiotics, a combination containing L. acidophilus, B. longum, and L. reuteri is the most influential group in ovariectomized osteoporotic rat.

Multiple Proteins of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG Are Involved in the Protection of Keratinocytes From the Toxic Effects of Staphylococcus aureus

We have previously shown that lysates of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG confer protection to human keratinocytes against Staphylococcus aureus. L. rhamnosus GG inhibits the growth of S. aureus as well as competitively excludes and displaces the pathogen from keratinocytes. In this study, we have specifically investigated the anti-adhesive action. We have tested the hypothesis that this activity is due to quenching of S. aureus binding sites on keratinocytes by molecules within the Lacticaseibacillus lysate. Trypsinisation or heat treatment removed the protective effect of the lysate suggesting the involvement of proteins as effector molecules. Column separation of the lysate and analysis of discrete fractions in adhesion assays identified a fraction of moderate hydrophobicity that possessed all anti-adhesive functions. Immunoblotting demonstrated that this fraction contained the pilus protein, SpaC. Recombinant SpaC inhibited staphylococcal adhesion to keratinocytes in a dose-dependent manner and improved keratinocyte viability following challenge with viable S. aureus. However, SpaC did not confer the full anti-adhesive effects of the LGG lysate and excluded but did not displace S. aureus from keratinocytes. Further purification produced four protein-containing peaks (F1–F4). Of these, F4, which had the greatest column retention time, was the most efficacious in anti-staphylococcal adhesion and keratinocyte viability assays. Identification of proteins by mass spectrometry showed F4 to contain several known “moonlighting proteins”—i.e., with additional activities to the canonical function, including enolase, Triosephosphate isomerase (TPI), Glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate dehydrogenase (G3P) and Elongation factor TU (EF-Tu). Of these, only enolase and TPI inhibited S. aureus adhesion and protected keratinocytes viability in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that inhibition of staphylococcal binding by the L. rhamnosus GG lysate is mediated by SpaC and specific moonlight proteins.

Novel Wound Dressing Based on Postbiotic/Chitosan Film Accelerates Cutaneous Wound Healing

Background: Wound healing is a complex and overlapping process involving immune cells, cytokines, and growth factors. Objectives: This study aimed to design and evaluate a novel wound dressing based on postbiotic/chitosan in accelerating wound healing. Methods: Lactobacillus reuteri PTCC1655 was cultured, and the cell-free supernatant (postbiotic) was obtained by medium centrifugation. The films were prepared using the solvent casting method and evaluated in terms of water absorption index, water vapor transmission rate, and antimicrobial properties. Forty-five male Wistar rats were subjected to a full-thickness excisional wound to assess the wound healing potential. The rats were randomly divided into ctrl-, chitosan, and postbiotic groups. The time-course histological and gene expression analysis was performed to compare the dressing efficacy. Results: The films showed proper water absorption and water vapor transmission rate and inhibited the pathogens commonly associated with wound infection. The postbiotic film improved wound healing by modulating the inflammatory phase, increasing collagen and elastin deposition, and enhancing angiogenesis based on the histological results. The gene expression assay showed that the postbiotic film accelerated wound healing by improving the expression of inflammatory mediators (IL-6 and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory mediators (TGF-β and VEGF). Conclusions: The cell-free supernatant/chitosan/polyethylene glycol (CFS/CS/PEG) biodegradable film could be introduced as a novel dressing for cutaneous wound healing. This transparent film enhances cutaneous wound healing by modulating infiltrated immunity cells and expressing inflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokines.