Researchers at the University of Calgary have discovered a potentially effective new method for treating bacterial skin infections. The findings of the research were published in the journal ‘Nature’. “While translating our research from the bench to the bedside will require many more experiments and incorporate models more closely related to human disease, it is exciting that we have made a fundamental discovery that can help with infection and tissue repair in humans.” may improve, especially in difficult-to-treat cases,” Kratophile said. Traditionally, researchers have thought that both neutrophils and monocytes (white blood cells) were recruited to clear bacteria from an infected site on the skin. When these cells work together, they act as the first line of defense of the immune system in our body. However, new research shows that monocytes alone are capable of facilitating rapid healing of wounds. Monocytes help in the healing process by regulating leptin levels and blood vessel growth during wound repair. They also produce ghrelin, a hormone that helps wounds heal more efficiently.