Human age and skin physiology shape diversity and abundance of Archaea on skin

Abstract

The human skin microbiome acts as an important barrier protecting our body from pathogens and other environmental influences. Recent investigations have provided evidence that Archaea are a constant but highly variable component of the human skin microbiome, yet factors that determine their abundance changes are unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the abundance of archaea on human skin is influenced by human age and skin physiology by quantitative PCR of 51 different skin samples taken from human subjects of various age. Our results reveal that archaea are more abundant in human subjects either older than 60 years or younger than 12 years as compared to middle-aged human subjects. These results, together with results obtained from spectroscopy analysis, allowed us gain first insights into a potential link of lower sebum levels and lipid content and thus reduced skin moisture with an increase in archaeal signatures. Amplicon sequencing of selected samples revealed the prevalence of specific eury- and mainly thaumarchaeal taxa, represented by a core archaeome of the human skin.

Profile of the skin microbiota in a healthy Chinese population

“…Most of the skin archaeal sequences were annotated with taxonomical information related to Thaumarchaeota and Euryarchaeota. This finding concurred with the findings of previous studies . One study focused on the microbiome on palms, and it treated Thaumarchaeota as a minor, transient part of the human‐associated microbiome, as palms are highly susceptible to influences from the external environment .…”

“…This finding concurred with the findings of previous studies. [18][19][20] One study focused on the microbiome on palms, and it treated Thaumarchaeota as a minor, transient part of the human-associated microbiome, as palms are highly susceptible to influences from the external environment. 20 However, Probst et al detected a considerable proportion of Thaumarchaeota sequences in non-exposed skin area-torso, and the sequences were close to that of ammonia-oxidizing group I.1b of Thaumarchaeota ("Nitrososphaera cluster") in the soil, which participates in the global nitrogen cycle.…”

“…Hence, Probst et al assumed that Thaumarchaeota reduces the skin pH by nitrifying to update the chemical mineral nutrient ammonia, affecting the skin natural protective barrier. 18,19 As for Euryarchaeota, methanogens (e.g. Methanobrevibacter, Methanosaeta, Methanosarcina and Rice Cluster I) are dominant on human skin.…”

No genome is an island: toward a 21st century agenda for evolution

“…We know that the composition of our microbiome affects metabolism and digestion over the course of our lifetime, changes during pregnancy, affects our immune responses (including autoimmunity and cancer immunotherapy), and even alters our states of mind . Each organ or area of the body has its own microbiome, including different skin regions and mucosal surfaces . These surface microbiomes play an important role in blocking infection by bacterial pathogens.…”

“…y Each organ or area of the body has its own microbiome, including different skin regions and mucosal surfaces. 57 These surface microbiomes play an important role in blocking infection by bacterial pathogens. The gut microbiome also suppresses invasion by bacterial pathogens.…”