An update on the current understanding of the infant skin microbiome and research challenges

IR Serghiou; MA Webber; LJ Hall

doi:10.1016/j.mib.2023.102364

An update on the current understanding of the infant skin microbiome and research challenges

IR Serghiou^*, MA Webber, LJ Hall

^*Corresponding author for this work

Microbiology and Infection

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Abstract

Multiple factors contribute to establishment of skin microbial communities in early life, with perturbations in these ecosystems impacting health. This review provides an update on methods used to profile the skin microbiome and how this is helping enhance our understanding of infant skin microbial communities, including factors that influence composition and disease risk. We also provide insights into new interventional studies and treatments in this area. However, it is apparent that there are still research bottlenecks that include overreliance on high-income countries for skin microbiome ‘surveys’, many studies still focus solely on the bacterial microbiota, and also technical issues related to the lower microbial biomass of skin sites. These points link to pertinent open-research questions, such as how the whole infant skin microbiome interacts and how microbial-associated functions shape infant skin health and immunity.

Original language	English
Article number	102364
Number of pages	7
Journal	Current Opinion in Microbiology
Volume	75
Early online date	14 Aug 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2023.102364
Publication status	Published - Aug 2023

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements:
I.R.S. is funded by a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) CTP studentship with Unilever (BB/T508974/1). L.J.H. is supported by Wellcome Trust Investigator Awards 100974/C/13/Z and 220876/Z/20/Z; and a BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme, Gut Microbes and Health BB/R012490/1, and its constituent projects BBS/E/F/000PR10353 and BBS/E/F/000PR10356. M.A.W. is supported by project Grant (BB/T014644/1) from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and BBSRC Institute Strategic Programmes Microbes in the Food Chain BB/R012504/1 and its constituent project BBS/E/F/000PR10349.

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Cite this

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title = "An update on the current understanding of the infant skin microbiome and research challenges",

abstract = "Multiple factors contribute to establishment of skin microbial communities in early life, with perturbations in these ecosystems impacting health. This review provides an update on methods used to profile the skin microbiome and how this is helping enhance our understanding of infant skin microbial communities, including factors that influence composition and disease risk. We also provide insights into new interventional studies and treatments in this area. However, it is apparent that there are still research bottlenecks that include overreliance on high-income countries for skin microbiome {\textquoteleft}surveys{\textquoteright}, many studies still focus solely on the bacterial microbiota, and also technical issues related to the lower microbial biomass of skin sites. These points link to pertinent open-research questions, such as how the whole infant skin microbiome interacts and how microbial-associated functions shape infant skin health and immunity.",

author = "IR Serghiou and MA Webber and LJ Hall",

note = "Acknowledgements: I.R.S. is funded by a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) CTP studentship with Unilever (BB/T508974/1). L.J.H. is supported by Wellcome Trust Investigator Awards 100974/C/13/Z and 220876/Z/20/Z; and a BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme, Gut Microbes and Health BB/R012490/1, and its constituent projects BBS/E/F/000PR10353 and BBS/E/F/000PR10356. M.A.W. is supported by project Grant (BB/T014644/1) from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and BBSRC Institute Strategic Programmes Microbes in the Food Chain BB/R012504/1 and its constituent project BBS/E/F/000PR10349.",

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N2 - Multiple factors contribute to establishment of skin microbial communities in early life, with perturbations in these ecosystems impacting health. This review provides an update on methods used to profile the skin microbiome and how this is helping enhance our understanding of infant skin microbial communities, including factors that influence composition and disease risk. We also provide insights into new interventional studies and treatments in this area. However, it is apparent that there are still research bottlenecks that include overreliance on high-income countries for skin microbiome ‘surveys’, many studies still focus solely on the bacterial microbiota, and also technical issues related to the lower microbial biomass of skin sites. These points link to pertinent open-research questions, such as how the whole infant skin microbiome interacts and how microbial-associated functions shape infant skin health and immunity.

AB - Multiple factors contribute to establishment of skin microbial communities in early life, with perturbations in these ecosystems impacting health. This review provides an update on methods used to profile the skin microbiome and how this is helping enhance our understanding of infant skin microbial communities, including factors that influence composition and disease risk. We also provide insights into new interventional studies and treatments in this area. However, it is apparent that there are still research bottlenecks that include overreliance on high-income countries for skin microbiome ‘surveys’, many studies still focus solely on the bacterial microbiota, and also technical issues related to the lower microbial biomass of skin sites. These points link to pertinent open-research questions, such as how the whole infant skin microbiome interacts and how microbial-associated functions shape infant skin health and immunity.

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An update on the current understanding of the infant skin microbiome and research challenges

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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