Genetic variation may affect bacterial composition and healing of wounds


Date:
June 18, 2020
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
Genetic variability across patients might play an important role in
shaping the microbiome composition of wounds, thereby influencing
the healing process, according to a new study.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Genetic variability across patients might play an important role in
shaping the microbiome composition of wounds, thereby influencing the
healing process, according to a study published June 18 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Caleb Phillips of Texas Tech University,
and colleagues. As noted by the authors, knowledge about genomic sites associated with microbiome diversity in chronic wounds could guide the identification of predictive biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.


========================================================================== Chronic wounds, which fail to show signs of healing within three weeks,
are a costly burden to patients. Bacterial infection of wounds plays an important role in stalling the healing process. A variety of bacterial
species are present in chronic wounds, but it is unknown why certain
species are observed in some wound infections and not others. To
address this question, Phillips and colleagues conducted a genome-wide association study to identify genomic loci associated with microbiome
diversity in chronic wounds. According to the authors, this study is the
first to identify genetic determinants of wound microbiomes and healing
in patients.

Specifically, the researchers found that genetic variation in the TLN2
and ZNF521 genes was associated with both the number of bacteria observed
in wounds and the abundance of common pathogens (primarily Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis). Moreover, Pseudomonas-infected wounds had fewer species, and wounds with fewer species were slower to
heal. The researchers also used biomarkers to predict the number of
species observed during infection. Overall, the results suggest that
genetic variation influences the types of bacteria that infect wounds
as well as the healing process. According to the authors, biomarkers
for chronic wound microbiomes could be used to guide treatment by
providing information about which patients are at risk of developing
certain types of persistent infections. Given that wound persistence is associated with the development of multiple drug-resistant pathogens,
such biomarkers could be used to identify which patients should receive
early and aggressive targeted therapy.

The authors add, "This study demonstrates the ability to find variants
in people's genomes that explain differences in the microorganisms
that infect their wounds. Such information is expected to guide new understanding about the mechanisms of infection and healing, and the establishment of predictive biomarkers that improve patient care."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Craig D. Tipton, Randall D. Wolcott, Nicholas E. Sanford, Clint
Miller,
Gita Pathak, Talisa K. Silzer, Jie Sun, Derek Fleming, Kendra P.

Rumbaugh, Todd D. Little, Nicole Phillips, Caleb
D. Phillips. Patient genetics is linked to chronic wound microbiome
composition and healing.

PLOS Pathogens, 2020; 16 (6): e1008511 DOI:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1008511 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618150302.htm

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