Genetic associations and shared environmental effects on the skin microbiome of Korean twins

The skin provides the first line of defense against external threats, such as pathogens and ultraviolet radiation, and represents a distinct environmental niche for a wide variety of microbes. Interactions among the skin microbiota, host genetics, and their environment shape the microbial community in individuals but remain poorly understood. Here, we examined genetic and environmental effects on the human skin microbiota and identified an association between the skin microbiota and host genetic factors in humans. The diversity of the skin microbiota varied depending on age, gender, sebum production, and skin pigmentation. Heritability analysis revealed substantial influences of both host genetics and the environment on bacterial taxa. Furthermore, we identified an association between the abundance of Corynebacterium jeikeium and variations in a human gene related to epidermal barrier function.