Esp protein

Esp (extracellular serine protease) is a protein secreted by the skin commensal bacterium *Staphylococcus epidermidis* that inhibits the formation and promotes the degradation of *Staphylococcus aureus* biofilms. In chronic wounds like venous leg ulcers, *S. aureus* biofilms create a protective environment for bacteria, contributing to persistent infection, inflammation, and impaired healing. The Esp protein acts as a serine protease that cleaves specific *S. aureus* surface proteins required for biofilm maintenance, thereby disrupting the biofilm structure and making the bacteria more susceptible to the host immune system and antimicrobial treatments. The University of British Columbia is developing this protein as a topical biological therapy to improve healing outcomes in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers.

Other names

Staphylococcus epidermidis Esp proteinExtracellular serine protease