Biologists estimate that human skin hosts trillions of bacterial cells, excluding fungi, mites, and viruses, according to a 2016 study in PLOS Biology. These organisms are not contaminants but are adapted to specific skin environments, with distinct communities thriving in oily, moist, or dry sites. Resident microbes contribute to colonization resistance by occupying space and consuming nutrients, some producing antimicrobials that inhibit pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, as noted in a Science Translational Medicine study. They also help maintain the skin's acidic mantle, which deters pathogen growth, and may play a role in immune system development, as suggested by research in Science. AI
RANK_REASON The item discusses findings from scientific studies and biological research on the human skin microbiome. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.1]
- Cutibacterium acnes
- Demodex
- Malassezia
- PLOS Biology
- science
- Science Translational Medicine
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Staphylococcus epidermidis
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