626 Isolation and Identification of the follicular microbiome: Implications for acne research

Abstract

The skin microbiome is a diverse ecosystem with a complex relationship to the host in healthy and disease states. Published studies clearly demonstrate that the skin microbiome varies by individual, body site, age, and disease status. To better understand the interplay among these factors in the “acne microbiome”, we need a robust, non-invasive sampling method. The best method for sampling the skin microbiome is a hotly debated topic. One key question is whether or not the method collects the skin’s microbiome from the skin’s surface as well as deeper within the hair follicles or a combination of both. Few studies have directly compared non-invasive sampling methods within the same individuals. In this study, we sampled the skin microbiome from the facial cheek using three different skin microbiome sampling techniques: cotton swab, commercially available pore strips, and cyanoacrylate glue follicular biopsy (glue), followed by both 16S sequencing and whole genome sequencing (WGS) to determine the similarities and differences between sampling and sequencing modalities. Our data shows 1) glue isolates more complete follicle contents than pore strips, 2) pore strips and glue isolate similar microbiome signatures, 3) microbiome diversity, including bacteria, bacteriophages and viruses, is greater on the skin’s surface compared to the follicle, 4) a wider variety of Propionibacterium species are classified by WGS, and 5) P. acnes abundance is negatively correlated with numerous bacterial and viral species. Altogether, our data strongly shows the contributions of anatomical region, sampling method, and sequencing method for skin microbiome research. Each can greatly impact the results, interpretation, and direction of future studies.