Abstract
BackgroundCharacterization of the topographical and temporal diversity of the microbial collective (microbiome) hosted by healthy human skin established a reference for studying disease-causing microbiomes. Physiologic changes occur in the skin as humans mature from infancy to adulthood. Thus, characterizations of adult microbiomes might have limitations when considering pediatric disorders such as atopic dermatitis (AD) or issues such as sites of microbial carriage. The objective of this study was to determine if microbial communities at several body sites in children differed significantly from adults.MethodsUsing 16S-rRNA gene sequencing technology, we characterized and compared the bacterial communities of four body sites in relation to Tanner stage of human development. Body sites sampled included skin sites characteristically involved in AD (antecubital/popliteal fossae), a control skin site (volar forearm), and the nares. Twenty-eight healthy individuals aged from 2 to 40 years were evaluated at the outpatient dermatology clinic in the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center. Exclusion criteria included the use of systemic antibiotics within 6 months, current/prior chronic skin disorders, asthma, allergic rhinitis, or other chronic medical conditions.ResultsBacterial communities in the nares of children (Tanner developmental stage 1) differed strikingly from adults (Tanner developmental stage 5). Firmicutes (Streptococcaceae), Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria (β, γ) were overrepresented in Tanner 1 compared to Tanner 5 individuals, where Corynebacteriaceae and Propionibacteriaceae predominated. While bacterial communities were significantly different between the two groups in all sites, the most marked microbial shifts were observed in the nares, a site that can harbor pathogenic species, including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonia.ConclusionsSignificant shifts in the microbiota associated with progressive sexual maturation as measured by Tanner staging suggest that puberty-dependent shifts in the skin and nares microbiomes may have significant implications regarding prevention and treatment of pediatric disorders involving microbial pathogens and colonization.
Highlights
Characterization of the topographical and temporal diversity of the microbial collective hosted by healthy human skin established a reference for studying disease-causing microbiomes
Maturation-dependent shifts in the skin microbiome may be relevant to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for disorders such as atopic dermatitis (AD) that differ in incidence and severity as individuals physiologically mature
This study describes dramatic differences in the nares and skin microbiomes that occur in younger children (Tanner stage 1) versus adults (Tanner stage 5), with a smaller number of children in intermediate Tanner groups suggestive of a microbial shift occuring around puberty
Summary
Characterization of the topographical and temporal diversity of the microbial collective (microbiome) hosted by healthy human skin established a reference for studying disease-causing microbiomes. Maturation-dependent shifts in the skin microbiome may be relevant to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for disorders such as atopic dermatitis (AD) that differ in incidence and severity as individuals physiologically mature. The 16S-rRNA gene is present in all bacteria/archaea and contains both variable regions, which enable taxonomic classification, and conserved regions, which serve as universal binding sites for PCR primers. Such methods have been used to investigate the healthy adult [2,3] and the neonatal skin microbiomes [7,8], but differences in the composition and complexity of the skin microbiome as a result of major developmental stages such as puberty have not been explored
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