Environmental influences on the skin microbiome of humans and cattle in rural Madagascar.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

The skin harbors a dynamic community of microorganisms, where contact with humans, other animals and the environment can alter microbial communities. Most research on the human skin microbiome features Western populations living in hygienic conditions, yet these populations have vastly different patterns of environmental contact than the majority of people on Earth, including those living in developing countries.

Methodology

We studied skin microbial communities of humans and cattle (zebu) in rural Madagascar to investigate how zebu ownership affects microbial composition of the human skin, and to characterize non-Western human and zebu skin communities more generally. A portion of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced from samples of zebu backs and human

SUBMITTER: Manus MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5631097 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature