"New insights into the factors driving the skin microbiome"

"We examined poorly understood relationships between the skin microbiome composition and both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We conducted a cross-sectional, walk-in, voluntary study convened at the 2015 ArtPrize Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We collected forehead, nose crease, scalp, forearm, and oral epithelium samples from 495 subjects, and characterized their bacterial microbiomes via sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA genes (V4 region). We also compiled extensive subject metadata through standardized questionnaires and non-invasive biophysical and imaging methods. Our data analysis focused on (i) determining how skin microbiome variation is associated with demographic, lifestyle, and host physiologic factors, and (ii) identifying specific microbiome signatures associated with chronological age and skin aging."