Antibiotics are a class of antimicrobial substances designed to target and eliminate bacteria. They play a crucial role in modern medicine as the primary agents used to fight bacterial infections. These powerful medications are indispensable for both treating and preventing bacterial diseases, making them one of the most important tools in combating infectious diseases.
What we know:
Antibiotic treatment decreases the bacterial density and alters the bacterial composition in skin (Zhang et al., 2014).
Subjects treated with doxycycline 100mg and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole showed more significant alterations in skin microbial communities than those that did not receive antibiotics (Jo et al., 2021).
Oxytetracycline reduced the diversity of the skin microbiome. Diversity reduction often indicates a disruption in the natural balance of microbial communities (Pereira et al., 2024).
Exposure to antibiotics often leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria within the skin microbiome (Jo et al., 2021).
The skin microbiome has the ability to recover after antibiotic exposure, but the recovery process can be slow and incomplete. Some bacterial communities may never return to their original state, potentially leading to long-term health impacts (Jeanette et al., 2017).
Industry impact & potential:
Studies show that after antibiotic treatment, resistant strains can dominate, posing a challenge for future treatments (Jo et al., 2021).
Companies can innovate by creating targeted antibiotics that minimize disruption to the beneficial microbiota or by developing products that support microbiome recovery post-antibiotic treatment
The cosmetic industry can leverage this knowledge to create skincare products that promote a healthy microbiome, potentially reducing the need for antibiotics by enhancing the skin's natural defense mechanisms
Our solution:
At Sequential, we have the first-ever targeted skin panels, specifically designed to address key skin concerns. These panels, a breakthrough in microbiome research, reflect years of dedicated work by our scientists to identify the microbial factors behind various skin conditions. Unlike traditional microbiome research tools, our panels allow for precise, focused analysis on any specific skin concern.
Reference:
Jeanette M Carlson, Annie B Leonard, Embriette R Hyde, Joseph F Petrosino & Todd P
Primm (2017) Microbiome disruption and recovery in the fish Gambusia affinis following exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotic, Infection and Drug Resistance, , 143-154, DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S129055
Jo JH, Harkins CP, Schwardt NH, Portillo JA; NISC Comparative Sequencing Program;
Zimmerman MD, Carter CL, Hossen MA, Peer CJ, Polley EC, Dartois V, Figg WD, Moutsopoulos NM, Segre JA, Kong HH. Alterations of human skin microbiome and expansion of antimicrobial resistance after systemic antibiotics. Sci Transl Med. 2021 Dec 22;13(625):eabd8077. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abd8077. Epub 2021 Dec 22. PMID: 34936382; PMCID: PMC8878148.
Pereira, Ana & Brown, Anya & Strobel, Davis & Soares, Marta & Xavier, Raquel & Apprill,
Amy & Sikkel, Paul. (2024). Effects of two common antibiotics on the skin microbiome of ornamental reef fishes: Implications for manipulative experiments in microbial dynamics. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries. 4. 10.1002/aff2.162.
Zhang M, Jiang Z, Li D, Jiang D, Wu Y, Ren H, Peng H, Lai Y. Oral antibiotic treatment
induces skin microbiota dysbiosis and influences wound healing. Microb Ecol. 2015 Feb;69(2):415-21. doi: 10.1007/s00248-014-0504-4. Epub 2014 Oct 10. PMID: 25301498.
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