TY - JOUR
T1 - From germ theory to germ therapy
T2 - Skin microbiota, chronic wounds, and probiotics
AU - Wong, Victor W.
AU - Martindale, Robert G.
AU - Longaker, Michael T.
AU - Gurtner, Geoffrey C.
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - BACKGROUND:: Microorganisms living throughout the body comprise the human "microbiota" and play an important role in health and disease. Recent research suggests that alterations in the skin microbiota may underlie chronic wound pathology. Probiotics are bacteria or yeast that confer a health benefit on the host and may have a role in preventing and treating nonhealing wounds by modulating host-microbe interactions. METHODS:: The English literature on skin microbiota, chronic wounds, biofilms, and probiotics is reviewed. RESULTS:: Recent evidence indicates that disruption of microbial communities and bacteria-host interactions may contribute to impaired wound healing. Preclinical and human studies highlight the potential of probiotics to prevent or treat various infectious, immune-mediated, and inflammatory diseases. CONCLUSIONS:: Advances in molecular sequencing and microbiology have shed light on the importance of the human microbiota in development, health, and disease. Probiotics represent a novel approach to altering the microbial environment with beneficial bacteria. Ongoing challenges include the need for better understanding of therapeutic mechanisms, improved regulation of manufacturing practices, and validation in controlled human trials. Current evidence suggests that probiotic-based therapies have considerable potential to exploit host-microbe relationships and improve clinical outcomes.
AB - BACKGROUND:: Microorganisms living throughout the body comprise the human "microbiota" and play an important role in health and disease. Recent research suggests that alterations in the skin microbiota may underlie chronic wound pathology. Probiotics are bacteria or yeast that confer a health benefit on the host and may have a role in preventing and treating nonhealing wounds by modulating host-microbe interactions. METHODS:: The English literature on skin microbiota, chronic wounds, biofilms, and probiotics is reviewed. RESULTS:: Recent evidence indicates that disruption of microbial communities and bacteria-host interactions may contribute to impaired wound healing. Preclinical and human studies highlight the potential of probiotics to prevent or treat various infectious, immune-mediated, and inflammatory diseases. CONCLUSIONS:: Advances in molecular sequencing and microbiology have shed light on the importance of the human microbiota in development, health, and disease. Probiotics represent a novel approach to altering the microbial environment with beneficial bacteria. Ongoing challenges include the need for better understanding of therapeutic mechanisms, improved regulation of manufacturing practices, and validation in controlled human trials. Current evidence suggests that probiotic-based therapies have considerable potential to exploit host-microbe relationships and improve clinical outcomes.
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U2 - 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3182a3c11e
DO - 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3182a3c11e
M3 - Article
C2 - 24165637
AN - SCOPUS:84887311913
SN - 0032-1052
VL - 132
SP - 854e-861e
JO - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
JF - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
IS - 5
ER -