A*STAR Release: Skin Microbes Modulate Eczema Flares
Finding provides deeper understanding of the skin disease and could lead to possible interventions for improved skin health
SINGAPORE – Research investigators in Singapore have found distinct bacterial and eukaryotic compositional differences in inter-flare Atopic dermatitis (AD) skin microbiome and provided evidence for its impact on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonisation and skin immune response. The differences were also functionally predicted to shape the skin microenvironment by contributing to skin dryness and reduced acidity, which favour pathogen colonisation and inflammation during AD flares. Taken together, the study demonstrates an intricate relationship between skin microbiome alterations and skin health.
AD, or eczema, is a highly prevalent skin disorder that affects one in five Singaporeans. AD patients suffer from dry, itchy skin with cyclic periods of asymptomatic non-flare and red, inflammatory, and often infected flares. While studies have been conducted previously to demonstrate near-complete colonisation of AD skin lesions during flares with the pathogen S. aureus, the between-flare skin microbiome composition and its contribution to AD pathology has remained elusive.
In AD, helpful skin microbes are missing even when the skin appears healthy. That in turn allows opportunistic and pathogenic microbes to flourish. This situation is similar to the “calm before the storm” when we see a signature in the non-flare skin. Published in scientific journal Nature Microbiology, this study was led by researchers from A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Institute of Medical Biology (IMB).
This work could provide the beginnings of a method to look for microbial signatures that would indicate a person is at risk of disease, with between-flare time points a good opportunity to target the skin microbiome as a possible prophylactic treatment for recurrent infections often seen in AD. In the long run, this could develop into an alternative and complementary approach for a continuum of skin health treatments that would be included with emollients and moisturisers to help promote a happy skin microbiome and stable non-flare disease state.
A multi-institutional effort that brought together expertise in skin biology, genomics, immunology and dermatology, this study also involved A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), alongside collaborators based at the National University of Singapore and National Skin Centre.
“The skin microenvironment, microbiome and immune system cross-modulate one another, culminating into AD flare cycles. Hence, therapeutic intervention for skin microbiome in AD patients seems like a feasible and attractive alternative. This gives us the momentum to continue to investigate this part of the disease cycle for possible interventions that could ultimately improve skin health,” said Dr Niranjan Nagarajan, the study’s joint corresponding author and Principal Investigator of Computational & Systems Biology at the GIS.
“This study suggests that interventional treatments targeting the skin microbiome with probiotic or microbe transplants could be useful for prevention of skin diseases. We are now focusing on longitudinal clinical studies across AD flares, microbiome development in infants at high risk of developing AD and studying the various strains of microbes that we identified here,” said Dr John Common, co-lead author of the study and Project Leader at the IMB.
GIS Executive Director Prof Ng Huck Hui said, “Once again, this highlights the importance of cross-institutional efforts. By harnessing the expertise and resources within the industry and our clinical community, we can achieve more high-impact results in the shortest time possible, which would ideally lead to more timely interventions for patients in need.”
Notes to Editor:
The research findings described in this media release can be found in the scientific journal Nature Microbiology, under the title, “Whole metagenome profiling reveals skin microbiome-dependent susceptibility to atopic dermatitis flare” by Kern Rei Chng1, Angeline Su Ling Tay2, Chenhao Li1, Amanda Hui Qi Ng1, Jingjing Wang3,4, Bani Kaur Suri5, Sri Anusha Matta5, Naomi McGovern6, Baptiste Janela6, Xuan Fei Colin C Wong2, Yang Yie Sio5, Au Bijin Veonice3, Andreas Wilm1, Paola Florez De Sessions1, Thiam Chye Lim7, Mark Boon Yang Tang8, Florent Ginhoux6, John E Connolly3, E Birgitte Lane2, Fook Tim Chew5, John E A Common2*, Niranjan Nagarajan1*
1Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore
2Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore 138648, Singapore
3Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore 138673, Singapore
4Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China 450001
5Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
6Singapore Immunology Network, Singapore 138648, Singapore
7Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore
8National Skin Centre, Singapore 308205, Singapore
The Nature Microbiology paper can be accessed online from: http://www.nature.com/articles/nmicrobiol2016106
For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Joyce Ang
Senior Officer, Office of Corporate Communications
Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR
Tel: +65 6808 8101
Email: angjj@gis.a-star.edu.sg
Sunanthar Lu
Senior Officer, Corporate Communications
A*STAR
Tel: +65 6517 1966
Email: sunanthar_lu@scei.a-star.edu.sg
About A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS)
The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is an institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It has a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to achieve extraordinary improvements in human health and public prosperity. Established in 2000 as a centre for genomic discovery, the GIS will pursue the integration of technology, genetics and biology towards academic, economic and societal impact.
The key research areas at the GIS include Human Genetics, Infectious Diseases, Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Cancer Stem Cell Biology, Computational and Systems Biology, and Translational Research.
The genomics infrastructure at the GIS is utilised to train new scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of high impact.
For more information about GIS, please visit www.gis.a-star.edu.sg
SINGAPORE – Research investigators in Singapore have found distinct bacterial and eukaryotic compositional differences in inter-flare Atopic dermatitis (AD) skin microbiome and provided evidence for its impact on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonisation and skin immune response. The differences were also functionally predicted to shape the skin microenvironment by contributing to skin dryness and reduced acidity, which favour pathogen colonisation and inflammation during AD flares. Taken together, the study demonstrates an intricate relationship between skin microbiome alterations and skin health.
AD, or eczema, is a highly prevalent skin disorder that affects one in five Singaporeans. AD patients suffer from dry, itchy skin with cyclic periods of asymptomatic non-flare and red, inflammatory, and often infected flares. While studies have been conducted previously to demonstrate near-complete colonisation of AD skin lesions during flares with the pathogen S. aureus, the between-flare skin microbiome composition and its contribution to AD pathology has remained elusive.
In AD, helpful skin microbes are missing even when the skin appears healthy. That in turn allows opportunistic and pathogenic microbes to flourish. This situation is similar to the “calm before the storm” when we see a signature in the non-flare skin. Published in scientific journal Nature Microbiology, this study was led by researchers from A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Institute of Medical Biology (IMB).
This work could provide the beginnings of a method to look for microbial signatures that would indicate a person is at risk of disease, with between-flare time points a good opportunity to target the skin microbiome as a possible prophylactic treatment for recurrent infections often seen in AD. In the long run, this could develop into an alternative and complementary approach for a continuum of skin health treatments that would be included with emollients and moisturisers to help promote a happy skin microbiome and stable non-flare disease state.
A multi-institutional effort that brought together expertise in skin biology, genomics, immunology and dermatology, this study also involved A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), alongside collaborators based at the National University of Singapore and National Skin Centre.
“The skin microenvironment, microbiome and immune system cross-modulate one another, culminating into AD flare cycles. Hence, therapeutic intervention for skin microbiome in AD patients seems like a feasible and attractive alternative. This gives us the momentum to continue to investigate this part of the disease cycle for possible interventions that could ultimately improve skin health,” said Dr Niranjan Nagarajan, the study’s joint corresponding author and Principal Investigator of Computational & Systems Biology at the GIS.
“This study suggests that interventional treatments targeting the skin microbiome with probiotic or microbe transplants could be useful for prevention of skin diseases. We are now focusing on longitudinal clinical studies across AD flares, microbiome development in infants at high risk of developing AD and studying the various strains of microbes that we identified here,” said Dr John Common, co-lead author of the study and Project Leader at the IMB.
GIS Executive Director Prof Ng Huck Hui said, “Once again, this highlights the importance of cross-institutional efforts. By harnessing the expertise and resources within the industry and our clinical community, we can achieve more high-impact results in the shortest time possible, which would ideally lead to more timely interventions for patients in need.”
Notes to Editor:
The research findings described in this media release can be found in the scientific journal Nature Microbiology, under the title, “Whole metagenome profiling reveals skin microbiome-dependent susceptibility to atopic dermatitis flare” by Kern Rei Chng1, Angeline Su Ling Tay2, Chenhao Li1, Amanda Hui Qi Ng1, Jingjing Wang3,4, Bani Kaur Suri5, Sri Anusha Matta5, Naomi McGovern6, Baptiste Janela6, Xuan Fei Colin C Wong2, Yang Yie Sio5, Au Bijin Veonice3, Andreas Wilm1, Paola Florez De Sessions1, Thiam Chye Lim7, Mark Boon Yang Tang8, Florent Ginhoux6, John E Connolly3, E Birgitte Lane2, Fook Tim Chew5, John E A Common2*, Niranjan Nagarajan1*
1Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore
2Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore 138648, Singapore
3Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore 138673, Singapore
4Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China 450001
5Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
6Singapore Immunology Network, Singapore 138648, Singapore
7Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore
8National Skin Centre, Singapore 308205, Singapore
The Nature Microbiology paper can be accessed online from: http://www.nature.com/articles/nmicrobiol2016106
For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Joyce Ang
Senior Officer, Office of Corporate Communications
Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR
Tel: +65 6808 8101
Email: angjj@gis.a-star.edu.sg
Sunanthar Lu
Senior Officer, Corporate Communications
A*STAR
Tel: +65 6517 1966
Email: sunanthar_lu@scei.a-star.edu.sg
About A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS)
The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is an institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It has a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to achieve extraordinary improvements in human health and public prosperity. Established in 2000 as a centre for genomic discovery, the GIS will pursue the integration of technology, genetics and biology towards academic, economic and societal impact.
The key research areas at the GIS include Human Genetics, Infectious Diseases, Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Cancer Stem Cell Biology, Computational and Systems Biology, and Translational Research.
The genomics infrastructure at the GIS is utilised to train new scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of high impact.
For more information about GIS, please visit www.gis.a-star.edu.sg