A Cutibacterium acnes antibiotic modulates human skin microbiota composition in hair follicles

Abstract

The composition of the skin microbiota varies widely among individuals when sampled at the same body site. A key question is which molecular factors determine strain-level variability within sub-ecosystems of the skin microbiota. Here, we used a genomics-guided approach to identify an antibacterial biosynthetic gene cluster in Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes), a human skin commensal bacterium that is widely distributed across individuals and skin sites. Experimental characterization of this biosynthetic gene cluster resulted in identification of a new thiopeptide antibiotic, cutimycin. Analysis of individual human skin hair follicles revealed that cutimycin contributed to the ecology of the skin hair follicle microbiota and helped to reduce colonization of skin hair follicles by Staphylococcus species.

Distinct systemic and mucosal immune responses to SARS-CoV-2

“…Several ‘cornerstone’ members contribute to this effect that include Corynebacterium, Dolosigranulum, Cutibacterium, Lactobacillus and other genera that generate a ‘front line’ defense against de novo infection and suppress progression of ‘pathobionts’ that are present as carriage in normal healthy individuals (Brugger et al, 2016; Claesen et al, 2020; Ridaura et al, 2018; de Steenhuijsen Piters et al, 2019). The mechanisms for this microbial resistance vary and include stimulation of mucus layers and elaboration of antimicrobial peptides (Brugger et al, 2016; Claesen et al, 2020; Ridaura et al, 2018; de Steenhuijsen Piters et al, 2019). How commensal communities participate in anti-viral defense are poorly defined but our results suggest that they may be involved in maintenance of basal production of interferon type I, II and III.…”

Distribution of ε-Poly- l -Lysine Synthetases in Coryneform Bacteria Isolated from Cheese and Human Skin

“…It is possible that ε-PL naturally exists in cheese and on human skin and may have a role in their ecologies. Other antimicrobial compounds, like bacteriocins, have been known to be produced in cheese and skin environments and modulate the microbiota compositions ( 27 , 28 ). The existence and quantity of ε-PL on human skin and in different cheeses and different stages of the cheese making process require further study.…”

Antimicrobials from a feline commensal bacterium inhibit skin infection by drug-resistantS. pseudintermedius

“…CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license made available under a (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted March 8, 2021. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.08.432323 doi: bioRxiv preprint 15 S. capitis (O'Neill et al, 2020) and recently Cutibacterium acnes (Claesen et al, 2020).…”

“…There are several reports of the discovery and characterisation of distinct antimicrobial-producing strains within common human bacterial skin species, including S. epidermidis (Cogen et al, 2010) S. hominis (Nakatsuji et al, 2017), S. lugdunensis (Zipperer et al, 2016) , S. capitis (O’Neill et al, 2020) and recently Cutibacterium acnes (Claesen et al, 2020). Unfortunately, the frequency and abundance of such antimicrobial isolates are found to be significantly reduced during human AD and S. aureus colonization (Nakatsuji et al, 2017).…”