Wounds and the Microbiota: The Healing Interplay Between Host and Microbial Communities

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Dermatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Chronic wounds are a global health issue, complicated by microbial imbalances and poor healing.
• Wound healing involves four phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.
• The skin microbiome plays an active role in all wound healing phases through immune, metabolic, and signaling pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of the wound-microbiome axis.
• To highlight advances and challenges in microbiome-targeted chronic wound therapies.
• To integrate molecular insights and bibliometric trends.

Main Methods:

• Literature review integrating molecular insights.
• Bibliometric trend analysis.
• Synthesis of current research on skin microbiota and wound healing.

Main Results:

• Beneficial microbes (e.g., *Staphylococcus epidermidis*, *Lactobacillus plantarum*) enhance healing.
• Pathogenic microbes (e.g., *Staphylococcus aureus*, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*) delay wound closure.
• Microbial dysbiosis impairs host responses and wound healing.

Conclusions:

• The skin microbiome is a critical factor in chronic wound healing.
• Understanding the wound-microbiome axis is crucial for developing new treatments.
• Future therapies should focus on modulating the microbiome to improve wound repair.