Skin Microbiology☆

McBain, A.J.; O’Neill, C.A.; Oates, A.

Abstract

In recent years the application of high throughput DNA sequencing for analyzing the composition of the skin microbiota has identified a highly diverse group of microorganisms. Although the factors determining the composition of the skin microbiota are not completely understood, it is clear that an array of bacteria including Staphylococcus epidermidis, coynebacteria, propionibacteria, micrococci, several types of fungi and also small mites known as Demodex, are able to reside on normal human skin, generally without causing disease. Other classes of microorganism that have been associated with skin include viruses and eukaryotic parasites, in addition to species of fungi or bacteria not normally considered part of the skin microbiota, and more often associated with disease. Despite these generalizations, resident microbes can also be associated with superficial and invasive disease when the integrity of skin is compromised. Thus, infections occur more frequently and with greater severity in individuals with a compromized skin barrier or immune status. A wide range of microbes therefore interact with the surface of the skin, with pathogenicity varying as a function of intrinsic characteristics including the expression of virulence factors, combined with host factors which may predispose the skin to infection.

Citation

McBain, A., O’Neill, C., & Oates, A. (2016). Skin Microbiology☆. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-801238-3.99217-1

• Book Type: Other
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016
• Deposit Date: Jan 17, 2019
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Book Title: Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences
• ISBN: 9780128012383
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-801238-3.99217-1
• Keywords: Acne; Bacteria; Cutaneous; Demodex; Epidermis; Fungi; Herpes simplex; Immunology; Keratinocyte; Leishmania; Skin; Staphylococcus; Streptococcus; Virulence factor; Virus
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1217913
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012383992171
• Contract Date: Oct 1, 2015