The skin microbiome is essential to healthy skin
The skin microbiome refers to the trillions of microorganisms – mostly bacteria, but also fungi and viruses – that reside on the skin. A balanced, healthy skin microbiome plays critical roles in skin health including:
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Preventing colonization/growth of pathogenic bacteria
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Reinforcing tight junctions between skin cells and maintaining the skin barrier
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Training the immune system and preventing inflammation
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Regulating skin pH
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Promoting wound healing
Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium sp. are examples of commensal bacteria (“good bacteria”) in the microbiome that mediate many of these positive effects. You can learn more about the skin microbiome here.
Many skin conditions are driven by imbalances in the skin microbiome
Over the past 15 years, with improved DNA sequencing technologies, our understanding of how dysbiosis (imbalances) of the skin microbiome relates to skin conditions like eczema, acne, body odor, rosacea, and psoriasis has grown tremendously.
For example, in the case of eczema, we now know that the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is a major contributor to the severity of eczema. Whereas S. aureus typically makes up only a small percentage of the healthy skin microbiome, studies have shown S. aureus can make up to 65% of the eczema microbiome! The S. aureus overgrowing on the skin secretes factors that damage the skin barriers, cause inflammation, and activate itch receptors (see box).
Similarly, acne has long been associated with the bacteria Cutibacterium acnes (previously known as Propionibacterium acnes). By carefully analyzing the acne microbiome, we now know that there is a diversity of C. acnes strains in the healthy skin microbiome. However, there are specific pathogenic sub-strains of C. acnes that can crowd out other C .acnes strains, take over the population, and cause acne.
Topaz enzymes rebalance the skin microbiome without damaging the good bacteria
Given the role bacteria play in causing and exacerbating skin conditions like eczema and acne, many common treatments are geared toward removing bacteria like S. aureus and C. acnes from the skin. Antibiotics (topical and oral), chemicals like benzoyl peroxide, and treatments like bleach baths aim to remove harmful bacteria from the skin. However, these treatments also do significant damage to the entire skin microbiome, including all the beneficial bacteria.
At Topaz Bio, we have developed enzyme technology that leverages naturally-occurring enzymes evolved to control bacterial proliferation and maintain balanced bacterial communities. By using metagenomics to discover novel starting points and synthetic biology to build and optimize around these scaffolds, Topaz enzymes are designed to selectively reduce bad bacteria while preserving good bacteria and restoring a healthy and balanced skin microbiome.
The skin microbiome is essential to healthy skin
The skin microbiome refers to the trillions of microorganisms – mostly bacteria, but also fungi and viruses – that reside on the skin. A balanced, healthy skin microbiome plays critical roles in skin health including:
-
Preventing colonization/growth of pathogenic bacteria
-
Reinforcing tight junctions between skin cells and maintaining the skin barrier
-
Training the immune system and preventing inflammation
-
Regulating skin pH
-
Promoting wound healing
Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium sp. are examples of commensal bacteria (“good bacteria”) in the microbiome that mediate many of these positive effects. You can learn more about the skin microbiome here.
Many skin conditions are driven by imbalances in the skin microbiome
Over the past 15 years, with improved DNA sequencing technologies, our understanding of how dysbiosis (imbalances) of the skin microbiome relates to skin conditions like eczema, acne, body odor, rosacea, and psoriasis has grown tremendously.
For example, in the case of eczema, we now know that the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is a major contributor to the severity of eczema. Whereas S. aureus typically makes up only a small percentage of the healthy skin microbiome, studies have shown S. aureus can make up to 65% of the eczema microbiome! The S. aureus overgrowing on the skin secretes factors that damage the skin barriers, cause inflammation, and activate itch receptors (see box).
Similarly, acne has long been associated with the bacteria Cutibacterium acnes (previously known as Propionibacterium acnes). By carefully analyzing the acne microbiome, we now know that there is a diversity of C. acnes strains in the healthy skin microbiome. However, there are specific pathogenic sub-strains of C. acnes that can crowd out other C .acnes strains, take over the population, and cause acne.
Topaz enzymes rebalance the skin microbiome without damaging the good bacteria
Given the role bacteria play in causing and exacerbating skin conditions like eczema and acne, many common treatments are geared toward removing bacteria like S. aureus and C. acnes from the skin. Antibiotics (topical and oral), chemicals like benzoyl peroxide, and treatments like bleach baths aim to remove harmful bacteria from the skin. However, these treatments also do significant damage to the entire skin microbiome, including all the beneficial bacteria.
At Topaz Bio, we have developed enzyme technology that leverages naturally-occurring enzymes evolved to control bacterial proliferation and maintain balanced bacterial communities. By using metagenomics to discover novel starting points and synthetic biology to build and optimize around these scaffolds, Topaz enzymes are designed to selectively reduce bad bacteria while preserving good bacteria and restoring a healthy and balanced skin microbiome.