The Skin Microbiome: Current Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions
Skin acts as a barrier that promotes the colonization of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses whose membership and function may differ depending on the various specialized niches or micro-environments of the skin. The group of microorganisms inhabiting the skin, also known as the skin microbiome, o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/5/1222 |
| _version_ | 1797599021844398080 |
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| author | Tasha M. Santiago-Rodriguez Brice Le François Jean M. Macklaim Evgueni Doukhanine Emily B. Hollister |
| author_facet | Tasha M. Santiago-Rodriguez Brice Le François Jean M. Macklaim Evgueni Doukhanine Emily B. Hollister |
| author_sort | Tasha M. Santiago-Rodriguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Skin acts as a barrier that promotes the colonization of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses whose membership and function may differ depending on the various specialized niches or micro-environments of the skin. The group of microorganisms inhabiting the skin, also known as the skin microbiome, offers protection against pathogens while actively interacting with the host’s immune system. Some members of the skin microbiome can also act as opportunistic pathogens. The skin microbiome is influenced by factors such as skin site, birth mode, genetics, environment, skin products, and skin conditions. The association(s) of the skin microbiome with health and disease has (have) been identified and characterized via culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Culture-independent methods (such as high-throughput sequencing), in particular, have expanded our understanding of the skin microbiome’s role in maintaining health or promoting disease. However, the intrinsic challenges associated with the low microbial biomass and high host content of skin microbiome samples have hindered advancements in the field. In addition, the limitations of current collection and extraction methods and biases derived from sample preparation and analysis have significantly influenced the results and conclusions of many skin microbiome studies. Therefore, the present review discusses the technical challenges associated with the collection and processing of skin microbiome samples, the advantages and disadvantages of current sequencing approaches, and potential future areas of focus for the field. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:28:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb89edfd7eb847e5aabeb8af9817cf22 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:28:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb89edfd7eb847e5aabeb8af9817cf222023-11-18T02:33:36ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-05-01115122210.3390/microorganisms11051222The Skin Microbiome: Current Techniques, Challenges, and Future DirectionsTasha M. Santiago-Rodriguez0Brice Le François1Jean M. Macklaim2Evgueni Doukhanine3Emily B. Hollister4Diversigen, Inc., New Brighton, MN 55112, USADNA Genotek, Kanata, ON K2V 1C2, CanadaDiversigen, Inc., New Brighton, MN 55112, USADNA Genotek, Kanata, ON K2V 1C2, CanadaDiversigen, Inc., New Brighton, MN 55112, USASkin acts as a barrier that promotes the colonization of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses whose membership and function may differ depending on the various specialized niches or micro-environments of the skin. The group of microorganisms inhabiting the skin, also known as the skin microbiome, offers protection against pathogens while actively interacting with the host’s immune system. Some members of the skin microbiome can also act as opportunistic pathogens. The skin microbiome is influenced by factors such as skin site, birth mode, genetics, environment, skin products, and skin conditions. The association(s) of the skin microbiome with health and disease has (have) been identified and characterized via culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Culture-independent methods (such as high-throughput sequencing), in particular, have expanded our understanding of the skin microbiome’s role in maintaining health or promoting disease. However, the intrinsic challenges associated with the low microbial biomass and high host content of skin microbiome samples have hindered advancements in the field. In addition, the limitations of current collection and extraction methods and biases derived from sample preparation and analysis have significantly influenced the results and conclusions of many skin microbiome studies. Therefore, the present review discusses the technical challenges associated with the collection and processing of skin microbiome samples, the advantages and disadvantages of current sequencing approaches, and potential future areas of focus for the field.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/5/1222culture-independent methodsmetatranscriptomicsshotgun metagenomicsskin microbiome |
| spellingShingle | Tasha M. Santiago-Rodriguez Brice Le François Jean M. Macklaim Evgueni Doukhanine Emily B. Hollister The Skin Microbiome: Current Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions Microorganisms culture-independent methods metatranscriptomics shotgun metagenomics skin microbiome |
| title | The Skin Microbiome: Current Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions |
| title_full | The Skin Microbiome: Current Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions |
| title_fullStr | The Skin Microbiome: Current Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Skin Microbiome: Current Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions |
| title_short | The Skin Microbiome: Current Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions |
| title_sort | skin microbiome current techniques challenges and future directions |
| topic | culture-independent methods metatranscriptomics shotgun metagenomics skin microbiome |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/5/1222 |
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