Synergistic activity of dispersin B and benzoyl peroxide against Cutibacterium acnes/Staphylococcus epidermidis dual-species biofilms.

Cutibacterium acnes plays a key role in the development of acne vulgaris, with biofilm formation contributing to its persistence and resistance to antimicrobial treatments. A critical component of C. acnes biofilms is poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG), an exopolysaccharide that facilitates both biofil...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jeffrey B Kaplan, Anna Muzaleva, Miloslav Sailer, Robert B Huizinga, Khalaf Kridin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320662
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Summary:Cutibacterium acnes plays a key role in the development of acne vulgaris, with biofilm formation contributing to its persistence and resistance to antimicrobial treatments. A critical component of C. acnes biofilms is poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG), an exopolysaccharide that facilitates both biofilm stability and biocide resistance. This study evaluated the efficacy of the PNAG-degrading enzyme dispersin B in enhancing the susceptibility of C. acnes biofilms to benzoyl peroxide (BP), a common anti-acne agent. Dual-species biofilms of C. acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, which has been shown to promote C. acnes biofilm growth under aerobic conditions, were cultivated in glass tubes and treated with dispersin B (5-80 µg/mL), BP (0.1-2.5%), or a combination of both. Dispersin B or BP alone reduced C. acnes colony-forming units (CFUs) by 1-2 log units. However, sequential treatment with dispersin B followed by BP achieved a synergistic effect, yielding a >6-log reduction in CFUs. Remarkably, concentrations as low as 5 µg/mL dispersin B combined with 0.5% BP efficiently eradicated C. acnes from the dual-species biofilms. These findings highlight the protective role of PNAG against BP and demonstrate the potential of dispersin B as an adjunctive therapy to enhance the efficacy of BP in acne treatment.
ISSN:1932-6203