Enzyme-based treatment of skin and soft tissue infections.

Abstract

Inflammatory diseases of the skin and soft tissues are an important group of human infections. The most common causes are the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Given the growing resistance of these pathogens to antimicrobials, the current research focuses on the search for novel therapeutic options that would be effective against infections refractory to conventional antimicrobials. A promising alternative is the use of enzyme-based antimicrobials (enzybiotics) that degrade the bacterial cell wall. They target the specific pathogen but do not affect the skin microbiome, thus helping the healing process. As enzymes can be poorly soluble, unstable, or subject to rapid elimination from the body, efforts are made to create biobetters, i.e., enzymes with improved characteristics. Emphasis is also put on the development of novel enzybiotic carriers or wound healing dressings with integrated enzymes.