title: Topographical and temporal diversity of the human skin microbiome.
abstract: Human skin is a large, heterogeneous organ that protects the body from pathogens while sustaining microorganisms that influence human health and disease. Our analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences obtained from 20 distinct skin sites of healthy humans revealed that physiologically comparable sites harbor similar bacterial communities. The complexity and stability of the microbial community are dependent on the specific characteristics of the skin site. This topographical and temporal survey provides a baseline for studies that examine the role of bacterial communities in disease states and the microbial interdependencies required to maintain healthy skin.
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Grice
authors.forename: Heidi H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conlan
authors.forename: Clayton B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Deming
authors.forename: Joie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Alice C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Gerard G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Bouffard
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Blakesley
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Segre
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D041963:Bacteroidetes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044822:Biodiversity; D005260:Female; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054892:Metagenome; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S