Harvard Researchers Uncover Bacterial Cause of Itch, Potential New Treatment

Staphylococcus aureus bacterium found to directly trigger itch, with existing anti-clotting drug showing promise as a potential anti-itch medication.

Harvard Medical School researchers have discovered that the common skin bacterium Staphylococcus aureus can cause itch by acting directly on nerve cells, a finding that could lead to new treatments for conditions like eczema.
The bacterium releases an enzyme called V8 that activates a protein called PAR1 on nerve fibers, which then sends itch signals from the skin to the brain.
Previously, it was believed that itchiness in conditions like eczema was caused by inflammation, but this research shows that the bacterium can cause itchiness even in the absence of inflammation.
The researchers found that an FDA-approved anti-clotting drug that blocks PAR1 was effective in reducing itchiness and skin damage in mice, suggesting it could be repurposed as an anti-itch medication for humans.
The team plans to explore whether other microbes can also trigger itch in future research.