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Science 29 May 2009:
Vol. 324. no. 5931, pp. 1190 - 1192
DOI: 10.1126/science.1171700
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Reports

Topographical and Temporal Diversity of the Human Skin Microbiome

Elizabeth A. Grice,1 Heidi H. Kong,2 Sean Conlan,1 Clayton B. Deming,1 Joie Davis,3 Alice C. Young,4 NISC Comparative Sequencing Program,4,* Gerard G. Bouffard,4,5 Robert W. Blakesley,4,5 Patrick R. Murray,6 Eric D. Green,4,5 Maria L. Turner,2 Julia A. Segre1,{dagger}

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.

1 Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
2 Dermatology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
3 Office of Translational Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
4 NIH Intramural Sequencing Center, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
5 Genome Technology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
6 Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

* See supporting online material for names of group members.

{dagger} To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jsegre{at}nhgri.nih.gov

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