Research from the University of Oregon has revealed that the yeast Malassezia sympodialis, commonly found on human skin, can produce a fatty acid that effectively combats Staphylococcus aureus, a notorious superbug responsible for over a million deaths globally each year.

This yeast generates 10-hydroxy palmitic acid (10-HP), which inhibits the growth of S. aureus by creating an acidic environment on the skin, enhancing its effectiveness.

Laboratory experiments demonstrated that treatment with M. sympodialis significantly reduced the viability of various S. aureus strains by over 100-fold within just two hours.

The study highlights the skin microbiome's natural defenses against infections, underscoring the importance of further exploring these biological interactions.

Caitlin Kowalski, the lead author of the study, emphasized the significance of discovering a known compound with antimicrobial properties that had previously been overlooked due to its specific activation conditions.

These findings were published in the journal Current Biology, indicating a promising avenue for combating antibiotic-resistant infections.

However, it is important to note that S. aureus can develop resistance to 10-HP, similar to its resistance to traditional antibiotics, which highlights the need for ongoing research into effective therapies.

To address this challenge, the researchers plan to investigate the genetic mechanisms behind antibiotic resistance in staph infections, aiming to improve treatment and prevention strategies.