Abstract
This study evaluated cutaneous microbial distribution, and microbial co-occurrence at different body sites and skin environments in Chinese women (39.6 ± 11.9 years, N = 100) during the winter season. Microbial distribution (Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Lactobacillus, Pseudomonadaceae, and Malassezia furfur), association with biomarkers (antimicrobial peptides: LL-37, β-defensins [HBD-2, HBD-3]), and claudin-1) and skin biophysical parameters (transepidermal water loss, pH, skin scaliness and roughness, sebum and hydration levels) were also determined. Skin sites (glabella [GL], hand-back [HB], interdigital web-space [IS], antecubital fossa [AF], volar forearm [VF], back [BA]) were classified as normal, oily or dry based on two-step cluster analysis and exposed or unexposed (uncovered or covered by clothes, respectively) based on seasonal apparel. Pseudomonadaceae and Staphylococcus aureus had the highest and lowest detection rate respectively at all sites. Cluster analysis identified skin sites as ‘normal’ (HB, BA, AF, VF), ‘dry’ (IS) and ‘oily’ (GL). Bacterial alpha diversity was higher in exposed (HB, IS, and GL) compared with unexposed sites (BA, AF and VF). Co-occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus with any of the other five microorganisms was lower in dry and oily skin versus normal skin. Skin exposure, biophysical/barrier profile and biomarkers were found to be associated with bacterial distribution and co-occurrence.
Highlights
The intricate structure of the cutaneous system represents an ecosystem harbouring a multitude of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mites, collectively referred to as the human microbiome[1,2,3,4]
The skin is a critical barrier between the body and the external milieu comprising a “physical barrier” and a “chemical barrier”[1,7,8,9]
The present study focuses on microbial co-occurrence and association with sub-clinical skin physiology and biomarkers for commonly observed skin microflora in Chinese women: Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), Lactobacillus, Pseudomonadaceae, and Malassezia furfur (M. furfur)
Summary
The intricate structure of the cutaneous system represents an ecosystem harbouring a multitude of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mites, collectively referred to as the human microbiome[1,2,3,4]. The skin is a critical barrier between the body and the external milieu comprising a “physical barrier” (environment, surface pH, lower temperature, acidic nature, timely desquamation, and tight junction proteins) and a “chemical barrier” (host defence molecules released by keratinocytes such as anti-microbial peptides [AMPs] [e.g. defensins, cathelicidin LL-37, and dermcidin], cytokines, proteases, lysozymes, and chemokines)[1,7,8,9] These barriers safeguard against pathogen invasion and colonization[3,4,10]. Previous studies have reported that the skin of Chinese populations has distinct microbiomes and Actinobacteria (Propionibacterium, Corynebacterium and Micrococcus), Firmicutes (Staphylococcus and Lactobacillus), Proteobacteria (Pseudomonadaceae), and fungi (Malassezia) as commonly occurring microbial phyla with varying relative abundance at different skin sites[13,15,26,27]. The present study focuses on microbial co-occurrence and association with sub-clinical skin physiology and biomarkers for commonly observed skin microflora in Chinese women: Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), Lactobacillus, Pseudomonadaceae, and Malassezia furfur (M. furfur)
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