Computer simulations of microscopic, protein coated beads that block bacteria from binding to host cells suggest that the microbeads could help reduce or eliminate bacterial infections in burn wounds.

Dr Paul Roberts, from the University of Birmingham’s School of Mathematics, and colleagues present their new findings, funded by the BBSRC, in PLOS Computational Biology.

The University of Birmingham reports the microbeads were developed several years ago as a potential alternative to antibiotics, which are difficult to innovate quickly enough to keep up with the rapid emergence of bacterial strains that are resistant to existing drugs. The tiny plastic spheres are coated with the same protein used by many bacteria to bind host cells. Therefore, they compete with bacteria for binding sites, physically keeping them from attaching to host cells.

Previous laboratory research has demonstrated the potential of the microbeads to treat infections in burn wounds in rats. To further explore this potential, Paul Roberts and his colleagues developed a mathematical model that simulates microbead treatment of rats with burn wounds infected by pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that often infects burn wounds in humans.

The researchers ran computer simulations for a range of parameter values representing different infection scenarios and microbead treatment strategies. This enabled them to explore which conditions allow for effective microbead treatment and how to refine microbead treatment to maximise its anti-bacterial power.

The simulations showed that microbead treatment is unlikely to be effective on its own, but when combined with a technique called debridement, it could significantly reduce or eliminate infection. Debridement is a method of cleansing a burn wound with a cloth and is already used regularly to treat burn wounds in humans.

Paul Roberts said “Our results also suggest that these microbeads could be used to complement traditional antibiotic drugs. In theory, this would allow us to eliminate bacterial infections more rapidly, reducing the quantity of antibiotics used and hence lessening the chances that bacteria will develop resistance to them.”

Next, the model results will be tested in laboratory experiments to determine if a combined microbead-debridement treatment is as effective as predicted. Meanwhile, Paul Roberts and his colleagues are developing more sophisticated mathematical models in order to explore the best ways to combine microbeads and debridement with traditional antibiotic treatment.