A Therapeutic Oral Vaccine Candidate against Propionibacterium acnes: Preparation and Immunological Evaluation of Nanoparticles Encapsulated Sialidase-CAMP Fusion Protein

Abstract Acne Vulgaris is a common skin disease caused by Propionibacterium acnes, an anaerobic microbiota of human skin that plays a vital role in the pathology of acne. The aim of this study was to prepare nanoparticles containing an acne recombinant protein and determine its ability as an oral acne vaccine in mice. The recombinant Sialidase-CAMP gene was expressed and purified in a prokaryotic host. The chitosan nanoparticles containing the recombinant protein were prepared, encapsulated, and administered by both oral and subcutaneous routes to Balb/c mice. Sera IgA and IgG and stool IgA titers were measured by ELISA, and the immunized mice were challenged against P. acnes. A 65 kDa recombinant protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and western blot. The size and zeta potential of nanoparticles were 80 nm and +18 mV, respectively. After oral immunization, the serum IgG and IgA titers were 1:3200 and 1:16, respectively, and the stool IgA titer was 1:8. In the subcutaneous route, the serum IgG titer was 1:51200. Immunized mice showed no inflammation in the ear of challenged mice. It is the first study that examines a chitosan-nanoparticulated acne fusion protein as an applicable acne vaccine candidate with appropriate immunogenicity potential. Further studies are required to validate the clinical usefulness of this vaccine candidate.

Photodynamic action of the red laser on Propionibacterium acnes

Abstract: Background: Photodynamic therapy is a therapeutic modality that has consolidated its activity in the photooxidation of organic matter, which arises from the activity of reactive oxygen species. Objective: To evaluate the effect of red laser 660nm with the photosensitizer methylene blue on Propionibacterium acnes in vitro. Method: The experimental design was distributed into four groups (1 - control group without the application of light and without photosensitizer, 2 - application of light, 3 - methylene blue without light, and 4 - methylene blue with light). Tests were subjected to red laser irradiation 660nm by four cycles of 5 minutes at 3-minute intervals. Results: It was evidenced the prominence of the fourth cycle (20 minutes) groups 2, 3 and 4. Study limitations: Despite the favorable results, the laser irradiation time photosensitizer associated with methylene blue were not sufficient to to completely inhibit the proliferation of bacteria. Conclusion: Further studies in vitro are recommended to enable the clinical application of this photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy.

Diseño y evaluación in vivo de fórmulas para acné basadas en aceites esenciales de naranja (Citrus sinensis), albahaca (Ocimum basilicum L) y ácido acético / Effectiveness of antimicrobial formulations for acne based on orange (Citrus sinensis) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L) essential oils

Introducción. Actualmente, la resistencia a los antimicrobianos de las cepas bacterianas involucradas en el desarrollo del acné es una realidad y se hace necesario buscar alternativas terapéuticas para su tratamiento. Objetivos. Diseñar fórmulas en gel a base de aceites esenciales y ácido acético, y evaluar su efectividad en pacientes voluntarios afectados por acné. Materiales y métodos. Se trata de un estudio experimental simple enmascarado de tres fórmulas en gel sobre cuatro grupos de siete pacientes. Los tratamientos antibacterianos (aceites esenciales), queratolíticos y mixtos (ácido acético), se aplicaron diariamente por espacio de ocho semanas. Se hicieron controles semanales para evaluar la evolución de los pacientes. Resultados. Todos los grupos reportaron mejoría (desaparición de las lesiones) de la condición del acné, la cual osciló entre 43 y 75 %, con leves efectos secundarios transitorios relacionados con la aplicación de los tratamientos utilizados. Conclusiones. Las fórmulas estudiadas mostraron ser estables química y físicamente durante la aplicación de los tratamientos, lo cual se demostró mediante análisis de cromatografía de gases, en la cual no se evidenció ningún cambio en los perfiles de composición de los aceites esenciales ni en el del ácido acético. Los resultados se catalogaron entre buenos y excelentes, en particular, el del ácido acético, que logró mejorías superiores al 75 %, dada su actividad mixta antiséptica y queratolítica. Los efectos secundarios (ardor y enrojecimiento) desaparecieron a los pocos minutos de realizada la aplicación y no impidieron el cumplimiento de los tratamientos.

Introduction. Currently, the antimicrobial resistance has developed in bacterial strains involved in the development of acne. Therefore, alternatives to antibiotic treatment have become necessary. Objectives. Gel formulations were designed based on essential oils and acetic acid, and their effectiveness was evaluated in patients affected by acne. Materials and methods. Masked simple experimental study of three gel formulations on 28 volunteer patients, separated in four groups of seven patients. Treatments were applied daily for eight weeks and consisted of (1) antibacterial (essential oils), (2) keratolytic medication (3) essential oils mixed with acetic acetic, and (4) kerolytic medication with acetic acid. Weekly checks were conducted to evaluate patient improvement. Results. All groups reported an improvement of the acne condition, which ranged between 43% and 75% clearance of lesions. Evidence of treatment disappeared within minutes, showing little discomfort or side effects after application. Conclusions. The essential oil formulations were chemically and physically stable during application of treatments. This was demonstrated by gas chromatography, where no evidence no change neither the composition profiles of essential oils nor in acetic acid. The results were ranked good to excellent, particularly for the acetic acid mixture, which achieved improvements of 75%. This appeared to be a result of their joint antiseptic and keratolytic activity. Side effects (burning and redness) disappeared within a few minutes of completing the application, therefore, did not interfere with adherence to treatment.

efficacy of topical solution of 0.3% ciprofloxacin in treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is a very common disorder affecting virtually every adolescent at some point in time. Topical treatment of acne involves the use of retinoids and antimicrobials. Antimicrobials reduce P. acne population and are effective for treatment of inflammatory lesions. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of topical ciprofloxacin solution and compared it with topical erythromycin solution. The study was a prospective single-blind clinical trial. One hundred patients with mild to moderate acne were enrolled. The patients were randomly treated with topical application of 0.3% ciprofloxacin or 4% erythromycin solutions. For a six week period, they were visited every two weeks. Acne severity index [ASI] was calculated in each visit and recorded. Ninety-three patients completed the study, 50 patients in the ciprofloxacin and 43 in the erythromycin groups. Irritation was generally mild for both treatments and no discontinuation was reported because of adverse effects. There was no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups in reduction of comedons or papules but reduction of pustules was greater in ciprofloxacin treatment group after 4 weeks. ASI was reduced in the two groups but in ciprofloxacin treated patients, this reduction was more significant at all follow up visits. The results of this study indicate that topical solutions of erythromycin and ciprofloxacin were effective in treating mild to moderate acne vulgaris and both were well-tolerated by the patients. Ciprofloxacin solution produced greater reduction in pustule counts and ASI, during the six week period of twice-daily application. This novel modality may have an important potential role in rotational topical therapy of inflammatory acne lesions