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Microbial homeostasis and dysbiosis in physiological and pathological skin
Yuyang Gan1, Jiarui Zhang1, Fangfang Qi1
1Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China.
Abstract:
The human skin serves as a major reservoir of mutualists that penetrate skin appendages and contribute to skin development, barrier repair, appendage health, and wound healing. The skin microbiota exhibits significant shifts in community composition in response to pathological skin conditions, such as impaired barrier integrity, follicular-sebaceous-related diseases, and wound healing, which contribute to the progression of skin diseases. Crosstalk among bacteria, fungi, and viruses and their collective effects on the host are critical determinants of skin health and disease. This review discusses the changes in the skin microbiota under both physiological and pathological conditions, with a particular focus on bacterial strains, virulence factors, and pathogenic genes, and their impact on host outcomes. Additionally, we preview the emerging clinical applications of specific bacterial strains, microbial competition, fungal cooperation, phage therapy, and engineered microbial interventions.
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