NTU Research Uncovers How E. faecalis Blocks Chronic Wound Healing, Antioxidants Offer Hope
An international research team led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), has identified a promising way to help chronic wounds heal faster, even those infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Chronic wounds represent a significant and growing global health problem. approximately 18.6 million people worldwide develop diabetic foot ulcers each year.[1] Over a lifetime, one in three people with diabetes may experience a foot ulcer.
These long-lasting wounds often lead to lower limb amputations. Ongoing infections frequently hinder healing, creating a cycle of repeated complications for patients.
In Singapore, chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, and venous leg ulcers are increasingly common. More than 16,000 cases are reported annually, especially among older adults and individuals with diabetes.[2]
How a Common Bacterium Blocks healing
Published in Science Advances,the findings—a collaboration with researchers from the University of Geneva,Switzerland—reveal how the widespread bacterium Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) actively interferes with the body’s wound-healing process. The team demonstrated that blocking this interference allows skin cells to recover and close wounds.
E. faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen frequently enough found in chronic infections, particularly diabetic foot ulcers. These wounds are notoriously arduous to treat and frequently enough fail to heal, increasing the risk of serious complications and amputation.
Antibiotic resistance complicates matters further. Some E. faecalis strains are no longer susceptible to common antibiotics, making infections harder to control.
Doctors have long recognized that infections slow wound healing,but the underlying biological mechanisms remained unclear until now.
The study was jointly led by NTU Associate Professor Guillaume Thibault from the School of Biological Sciences and Professor Kimberly kline from the University of Geneva, who is also a visiting professor at SCELSE – Singapore Center for Environmental Life Sciences and Engineering, at NTU.
The role of Bacterial Metabolism and Cell Stress
The research