Shotgun metagenomic sequencing on skin microbiome indicates dysbiosis exists prior to the onset of atopic dermatitis

Abstract

BackgroundWhile the microbiome is increasingly seen as a targetable contributor to atopic dermatitis (AD), questions remain as to whether the dysbiosis is secondary to diseased skin or if it predates symptom onset. Previous work has evaluated how the skin microbiome changes with age and established the influence of factors like delivery mode and breastfeeding on global microbiome diversity. However, these studies were unable to identify taxa which predict subsequent AD.MethodsSkin swab samples were collected from the first week of life for 72 children in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a single site hospital. Participants were followed for 3 years to determine their health status. We applied shotgun metagenomic sequencing to assess the microbiome differences between 31 children who went on to develop AD and 41 controls.ResultsWe identified that subsequent development of AD was associated with differential abundance of several bacterial and fungal taxa as well as several metabolic pathways, each of which have been previously associated with active AD.ConclusionsOur work provides evidence of reproducibility for the previously reported dysbiotic signatures predating AD onset while also expanding prior findings through the first use of metagenomic assessment prior to AD onset. While extrapolation of our findings beyond the pre‐term, NICU cohort is limited, our findings add to the evidence that the dysbiosis associated with AD pre‐dates disease onset rather than reflect a secondary consequence of skin inflammation.

Does “all disease begin in the gut”? The gut-organ cross talk in the microbiome

“…Dermatological research has increasingly emphasized the pivotal role of the skin microbiome in the pathogenesis of various skin conditions, providing valuable insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies. Eczema, characterized by compromised skin barrier function and inflammation, demonstrates microbial dysbiosis with a reduction in beneficial Staphylococcus epidermidis and an elevation in pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus (Pessoa et al 2023 ; Chaudhary et al 2023a , 2023b ) . Similarly, psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory disorder, is associated with alterations in the skin microbiome, including an overabundance of Streptococcus spp.…”

“…The vaginal mucosa comprised stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium covered by cervicovaginal secretion and it procures glucose, oxygen, and other nutrients from underlying mucosal tissues via the process of diffusion due to limited blood supply (Chen et al 2021a , 2021b ). The vagina harbors a complex consortium of microbial communities that lives in a symbiotic relationship with the host (Chaudhary et al 2023a , 2023b ). The vaginal microecosystem harbors a billion microbes in a healthy vagina and among all, Lactobacillus is a dominant microbe that is known to produce numerous antimicrobial compounds.…”