The Influence of Age and Gender on Skin-Associated Microbial Communities in Urban and Rural Human Populations

Abstract

Differences in the bacterial community structure associated with 7 skin sites in 71 healthy people over five days showed significant correlations with age, gender, physical skin parameters, and whether participants lived in urban or rural locations in the same city. While body site explained the majority of the variance in bacterial community structure, the composition of the skin-associated bacterial communities were predominantly influenced by whether the participants were living in an urban or rural environment, with a significantly greater relative abundance of Trabulsiella in urban populations. Adults maintained greater overall microbial diversity than adolescents or the elderly, while the intragroup variation among the elderly and rural populations was significantly greater. Skin-associated bacterial community structure and composition could predict whether a sample came from an urban or a rural resident ~5x greater than random.

Study of Skin and Nail Candida Species as a Normal Flora Based on Age Groups in Healthy Persons in Tehran-Iran (2016)

“…In this work, the cutaneous candida community was similar between males and females and there was no significant difference in candida isolation between the genders .whereas in other surveys about the normal flora of the skin the frequency of candida isolation was significantly greater in females compared to males [7]. Changes in sociodemographic and economic patterns, life style and diet over the time could be the reason for the observed differences in this study [6,12]. During this investigation the maximum amount of candida isolation in regard to anatomic site of the skin was related to fingernails.…”

“…Today the percent of opportunistic fungal infections is increasing, so when considering the role of skin as a reservoir from which infection of a susceptible host can occur, determining the fungal microbiome specially Candida is important [3]. Two of the most factors influencing the complex of inhabitants on the skin are gender [4] and age [5,6]. There are more data concerning bacterial cutaneous flora than fungal flora, and among fungal flora, Candida species may be one of the important opportunistic agents residing on the skin with the potential to create different kinds of candidiasis [7,8].…”

Performing Skin Microbiome Research: A Method to the Madness

“…A “study population” may refer to individuals with/without a particular disease, in a specific age range (Capone et al , 2011; Costello et al , 2013; Dominguez-Bello et al , 2010; Oh et al , 2012; Ying et al , 2015), or in a geographic region (Blaser et al , 2013; Clemente et al , 2015). Studies have demonstrated some interindividual differences in the skin microbiome even when matched for body site and sexual maturity, highlighting the need for the study design (e.g.…”

“…sebaceous sites hosting lipophilic bacteria). Skin bacterial communities in neonates, infants, and young children are notably distinct from those in sexually mature children and adults, particularly at certain skin sites (Capone et al , 2011; Costello et al , 2013; Dominguez-Bello et al , 2010; Jo et al , 2016a; Oh et al , 2012; Ying et al , 2015). The skin microbiomes in patients with different cutaneous and general medical conditions show distinctive patterns of skin microbiomes, but heterogeneity in the experimental study designs highlights the challenges in comparing results between studies and emphasizes a need for minimal standards.…”

Experimental metagenomics and ribosomal profiling of the human skin microbiome

“…Furthermore, age and gender can be confounding factors that need to be considered and properly addressed. [18][19][20] For these reasons, it is crucial to have properly powered cohorts and ad hoc longitudinal study designs. [21][22][23][24] Propionibacterium acnes and S. epidermidis are two prevalent members of the skin microbiome, but many other bacteria from the Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria phyla are frequently found.…”