16S rRNA gene sequencing data of the human skin microbiome before and after swimming in the ocean

These data represent the abundance, diversity and predicted function gene profiles of the microbial communities present on human skin before and after swimming in the ocean. The skin microbiome has been shown to provide protection against infection from pathogenic bacteria. It is well-known that exposure to ocean water can cause skin infection, but little is known about how exposure can alter the bacterial communities on the skin. Skin microbiome samples were collected from human participants before and after swimming in the ocean. These data were used to analyze the changes in abundance and diversity of microbial communities on the skin and the changes in the functional profiles of the bacteria, specifically focusing on genes involved in antibiotic resistance and bacterial virulence.