Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2025
07:00
Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Published on: October 4, 2024
628
Spatial diversity of the skin bacteriome.
Marcos Pérez-Losada1, Keith A Crandall1
1Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|October 5, 2023
Summary
The human skin microbiome varies significantly across different body regions and microenvironments. Understanding this skin bacteriome diversity is key to identifying imbalances linked to skin diseases.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Human Microbiome Research
- Dermatology
Background:
- The human skin microbiome plays a crucial role in skin physiology and homeostasis.
- Understanding the healthy skin bacteriome is essential for identifying dysbiosis linked to diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial diversity of the skin bacteriome across various skin regions.
- To analyze how physiological characteristics of skin microenvironments influence bacterial communities.
Main Methods:
- 16S rRNA metataxonomics was used to analyze bacterial diversity.
- Samples were collected from five distinct skin regions in 129 healthy adults over four years.
- Statistical analyses were performed to compare diversity indices and predicted functional profiles.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in bacterial relative abundance, diversity indices, and predicted functions were found across skin regions and microenvironments.
- Dry skin regions exhibited greater evenness, richness, and distinct functional profiles compared to sebaceous and moist regions.
- No significant variations in the skin bacteriome were observed across gender, age, or ethnicity.
Conclusions:
- The skin bacteriome composition and function are systematically influenced by skin region and microenvironment.
- Skin bacterial diversity and stability are region- and subject-dependent, highlighting the complexity of the skin ecosystem.
- These findings provide insights into factors affecting skin bacterial diversity and its implications for health.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Skin Diseases and Disorders
3.9K
Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
3.9K
01:29Microbial Morphologies
25
Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
25
01:29Diversity of Archaea IV
36
Hyperthermophilic archaea are a group of extremophiles thriving at temperatures above 80°C, often in hydrothermal vents and volcanic soils where conditions surpass the boiling point of water. At such temperatures, proteins, membranes, and DNA in most organisms degrade, but hyperthermophiles have evolved remarkable adaptations to maintain stability and function.Unique Cellular FeaturesHyperthermophilic membranes are composed of a monolayer of biphytanyl tetraether lipids, which resist...
36
01:26Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota
26
The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...
26
01:27Diversity of Archaea III
18
Crenarchaeota, a prominent phylum of Archaea, is remarkable for its ability to thrive in extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and acidity. These microorganisms inhabit sulfuric hot springs, volcanic systems, and submarine hydrothermal vents, where temperatures often exceed 100°C. The unique adaptations of Crenarchaeota not only allow survival under such extreme conditions but also provide insights into the mechanisms of life in primordial Earth-like...
18
01:30Diversity of Archaea I
20
Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms, are classified into five major phyla based on genetic and biochemical characteristics: Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Korarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota. Among these, the phylum Euryarchaeota is notable for its remarkable diversity in morphology, metabolism, and ecological adaptations.Morphological and Metabolic DiversityMembers of Euryarchaeota exhibit a variety of cellular shapes, including rods and cocci. Their metabolic pathways...
20