Microbiome research in Asia with A*STAR and SRIS - 2nd Asia Skin Microbiome Congress

This 2-3 March join over 150 regional and global skin microbiome researchers ranging from both scientific and industry backgrounds

? 20 expert presentations including panel discussion

? 7+ hours of dedicated networking time

? A virtual exhibition hall featuring cutting edge technology and solution providers

Specific Focus Areas

? Skin health, wellbeing, and microbiome-associated skin disease

? Skin immunology

? Microbe-based therapies

? Emerging technologies for skin microbiome research and innovation

? Cosmetic vs Therapeutic regulatory considerations

? Case studies / Academic-Commercial partnerships

Experts include

Molecular definition of host-microbe interactions advance treatment of skin disease

The skin has been considered as a primary barrier to the outside world and, unlike the gut, not originally an emphasis of microbiome-based therapeutics. However, if one considers the surface area within skin follicles and other skin appendages, the skin is an ideal interface to enable bacteria to interact with us. This skin provides a larger and more immediate surface than the intestine through which bacteria directly interact with humans. Therefore, the skin represents an ideal interface for both local and systemic delivery of therapeutics by microbes. Our lab has used a combined molecular and genetic approach to define plausible molecular mechanisms through which defined bacterial strains can improve human health. Key findings that will be discussed in this lecture are our observations for how bacteria produce specific small molecules, peptides, and enzymes that in some cases induce disease and in other cases benefit us by acting as anti-inflammatory agents, anti-neoplastic agents and antibiotics. Furthermore, we have shown how complex mechanisms of intra-species and inter-species quorum sensing is essential for control of community dynamics. This is particularly important in human disorders such as Netherton syndrome and Atopic Dermatitis where failure to control quorum sensing results in dysbiosis and disease. Importantly, with the molecular information gained over the past decade it has now become possible to accurately model the behavior of diverse bacterial populations on the skin and to perform controlled clinical trials using bacteria selected for their capacity to produce beneficial molecules. These trials have been highly successful for atopic dermatitis and predict an exciting new era in rationally designed bacteriotherapy

Biofunctional hydrogel accelerates diabetic wound healing

Chronic non-healing wound infection is a significant medical problem with potentially serious consequences for diabetic patients. Bacterial biofilm and emerging multi-drug resistance can hamper the wound healing process. Current FDA-approved treatments for diabetic wounds are limited by their contraindications and antimicrobial strategies. We report a novel cationic polymerbased hydrogel which can kill bacterial biofilm from wounds and accelerate diabetic wound healing. The biocompatible hydrogel has a good swellability and is resistant to degradation by bacteria and wound fluids. In an excisional wound infection diabetic murine model, the hydrogel effectively eradicates >99.9% biofilms developed by drug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA USA300, CR-PA and CR-AB. Silverbased wound dressing (Allevyn Ag) and gel control show almost no killing of biofilm. The hydrogel also causes wounds to heal quickly by elevating wound healing factors in wound tissue. We have invented a hydrogel that promotes healing of infected diabetic wounds.

Back to Health: What can we learn about health from the microbiome of hunter-gatherers

The emerging science of the microbiome is still in its infancy, yet it is the driving force behind a transformative scientific revolution. What lies ahead will have broad implications for us as scientists, our companies and academic institutions, our health, and perhaps for our survival. It is worth reflecting on where we are today, how we got here, what we have learned so far, and the limitations of our methods and of our vision. I will introduce the concept of the symbiome and discuss what we are learning about our biological past by presenting our WGS and metatranscriptomic data on the Yanomami skin microbiome from our collaboration with a tribe of minimally impacted hunter-gatherers in the Amazon. This will challenge many of our deeply held ideas about human health and inform our path forward. Finally, I will discuss how we are translating what we have learned in into products and interventions designed to restore diversity, resilience, and ultimately, health.

The Scabies microbiota consortium toward new interventions: Exploring the scabies-associated microbiota in a multicountry, observational cross-sectional study to understand the pathobiology of impetigo linked to scabies

Globally, scabies causes substantial morbidity and mortality. In the tropics, scabies frequently promotes opportunistic bacterial infections, leading to cellulitis/necrotizing fasciitis, bacteraemia, kidney disease and/or rheumatic heart disease. With no vaccine, diagnostic tools and limited treatment options, scabies is considered neglected by WHO. Pathobiology is poorly understood, due to an absence of molecular information on mite infestation, bacterial co-infection and the interactions thereof. We propose a unique ‘microbiome’ research program, applying meta-omics to a global set of samples, providing fundamental insights into the interaction of scabies and bacterial pathogens to enable the discovery of new and effective diagnostic and/or therapeutic tools.

Exploring the skin microbiome and medical implications

Understanding the skin microbiome and its role in health and disease is advancing but still faces a number of challenges. New dimensions to microbiome analysis, such as greater integration of host and microbial data, assessment of the host genetic contribution, and continued development of technology, are all promising deeper insights. A number of clinical scenarios involving the skin microbiome will be discussed including acne, psoriasis, diabetes as well as healthy individuals. In addition, new methodology for microbiome measurement and analysis will be presented.

Virtual venue walkthrough

Watch a short about Hopin

https://www.loom.com/share/13adece3de604583b8b41398187c7476