Diversity of the human skin microbiome early in life.

ABSTRACT: Within days after birth, rapid surface colonization of infant skin coincides with significant functional changes. Gradual maturation of skin function, structure, and composition continues throughout the first years of life. Recent reports have revealed topographical and temporal variations in the adult skin microbiome. Here we address the question of how the human skin microbiome develops early in life. We show that the composition of cutaneous microbial communities evolves over the first year of life, showing increasing diversity with age. Although early colonization is dominated by Staphylococci, their significant decline contributes to increased population evenness by the end of the first year. Similar to what has been shown in adults, the composition of infant skin microflora appears t

SUBMITTER: Capone KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3182836 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature