A mixed community of skin microbiome representatives influences cutaneous processes more than individual members
Abstract
Skin, the largest organ of the human body by weight, hosts a diversity of microorganisms that can influence health. The microbial residents of the skin are now appreciated for their roles in host immune interactions, wound healing, colonization resistance, and various skin disorders. Still, much remains to be discovered in terms of the host pathways influenced by skin microorganisms, as well as the higher-level skin properties impacted through these microbe-host interactions. Towards this direction, recent efforts using mouse models point to pronounced changes in the transcriptional profiles of the skin in response to the presence of a microbial community. However, there is a need to quantify the roles of microorganisms at both the individual and community-level in healthy human skin. In this study, we utilize human skin equivalents to study the effects of individual taxa and a microbial community in a precisely controlled context. Through transcriptomics analysis, we identify key genes and pathways influenced by skin microbes, and we also characterize higher-level impacts on skin processes and properties through histological analyses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jan 22, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1186/s40168-020-00963-1
Entities
People
- Allison Reno
- Amanda Ernlund
- David K. Karig
- Kianna Blount
- Kristin H. Loomis
- Kristina Zudock
- Susan K. Wu
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory