Scientists have genetically modified Cutibacterium acnes, a common skin bacterium, to produce more heat and detect temperature changes. This could lead to a probiotic cream that wards off frostbite and hypothermia in extreme conditions. The research was presented at a conference in the UK.
Guillermo Nevot Sánchez at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona and his colleagues used CRISPR to engineer Cutibacterium acnes, one of the most abundant microbes on healthy skin. They altered levels of the protein arcC, involved in energy generation, enabling the bacteria to produce twice as much heat as normal. In a separate modification, the team adjusted heat-sensitive genes so the microbes detect temperatures above 32°C (90°F) and signal this with fluorescence. Together, these changes offer the first proof of concept for engineering skin bacteria to generate heat in response to temperature shifts, according to Nevot Sánchez. The findings were presented on 12 March at the Synthetic Biology for Health and Sustainability conference in Hinxton, UK. The researchers aim to combine both abilities in one strain and adapt it to sense dangerous cold drops. Unpublished experiments show the bacteria survive when mixed into a cream. Nevot Sánchez envisions a probiotic cream applied before entering cold areas, like hikes, to prevent hypothermia, or for people in harsh climates without heating. Harris Wang at Columbia University, who was not involved, called it “very creative work” and said it could make the difference in avoiding frostbite. He highlighted applications for winter warmth, expeditions, and deep-water diving. Further steps include lab tests on human skin samples and mice, human trials, and developing a way to deactivate the bacteria, such as a second cream, to avoid side effects like overheating.
