Comparative whole genome analysis of face-derived Streptococcus infantis CX-4 unravels the functions related to skin barrier.

BACKGROUND: The skin microbiome is essential in guarding against harmful pathogens and responding to environmental changes by generating substances useful in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Among these microorganisms, Streptococcus is a bacterial species identified in various isolation sources. In 2021, a strain of Streptococcus infantis, CX-4, was identified from facial skin and found to be linked to skin structure and elasticity. As the skin-derived strain differs from other S. infantis strains, which are usually of oral origin, it emphasizes the significance of bacterial variation by the environment. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the unique characteristics of the CX-4 compared to seven oral-derived Streptococcus strains based on the Whole-Genome Sequencing data, focusing on its potential role in skin health and its possible application in cosmetic strategies. METHODS: The genome of the CX-4 strain was constructed using PacBio Sequencing, with the assembly performed using the SMRT protocol. Comparative whole-genome analysis was then performed with seven closely related strains, utilizing web-based tools like PATRIC, OrthoVenn3, and EggNOG-mapper, for various analyses, including protein association analysis using STRING. RESULTS: Our analysis unveiled a substantial number of Clusters of Orthologous Groups in diverse functional categories in CX-4, among which sphingosine kinase (SphK) emerged as a unique product, exclusively present in the CX-4 strain. SphK is a critical enzyme in the sphingolipid metabolic pathway, generating sphingosine-1-phosphate. The study also brought potential associations with isoprene formation and retinoic acid synthesis, the latter being a metabolite of vitamin A, renowned for its crucial function in promoting skin cell growth, differentiation, and maintaining of skin barrier integrity. These findings collectively suggest the potential of the CX-4 strain in enhancing of skin barrier functionality. CONCLUSION: Our research underscores the potential of the skin-derived S. infantis CX-4 strain by revealing unique bacterial compounds and their potential roles on human skin.

Dermatobacter hominis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Iamiaceae, revealed the potential utilisation of skin-derived metabolites.

A non-motile, novel actinobacterial strain, Kera-3T, which is a gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, was isolated from human keratinocytes on 1/10 diluted R2A agar. Whole-cell hydrolysis of amino acids revealed the presence of meso-DAP, alanine, and glutamic acid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9 (H8), whereas the primary fatty acids were C16:0 and C18:1 ω9c. The major phospholipids included diphosphatidylglycerol and aminophospholipids, along with an unidentified phosphoglycolipid and an aminophosphoglycolipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 73.2%, based on the complete genome sequence. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenomic analysis of 91 core genes showed that strain Kera-3T formed a new lineage in the family Iamiaceae, with the closest neighbour Rhabdothermincola sediminis SYSU G02662T having 91.19% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity. A comparative genomic study of the predicted general metabolism and carbohydrate-active enzymes supported the phylogenetic and phylogenomic data. Based on the analysis of physiological, biochemical, and genomic characteristics, strain Kera-3T can be distinguished from known genera in the family Iamiaceae and represents a novel genus and species. Therefore, the name Dermatobacter hominis gen. nov., sp. nov. was proposed, with the type strain Kera-3T (= KACC 22415T = LMG 32493T).

Growth Increase in the Herbaceous Plant Centella asiatica by the Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Priestia megaterium HyangYak-01.

Centella asiatica is a traditional herbaceous plant with numerous beneficial effects, widely known for its medicinal and cosmetic applications. Maximizing its growth can lead to beneficial effects, by focusing on the use of its active compounds. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is known to be an alternative to chemical fertilizers. In this study, we used the PGPR Priestia megaterium HY-01 to increase the yield of C. asiatica. In vitro assays showed that HY-01 exhibited plant growth-promoting activities (IAA production, denitrification, phosphate solubilization, and urease activity). Genomic analyses also showed that the strain has plant growth-promoting-related genes that corroborate with the different PGP activities found in the assays. This strain was subsequently used in field experiments to test its effectiveness on the growth of C. asiatica. After four months of application, leaf and root samples were collected to measure the plant growth rate. Moreover, we checked the rhizosphere microbiome between the treated and non-treated plots. Our results suggest that treatment with Hyang-yak-01 not only improved the growth of C. asiatica (leaf length, leaf weight, leaf width, root length, root width, and chlorophyll content) but also influenced the rhizosphere microbiome. Biodiversity was higher in the treated group, and the bacterial composition was also different from the control group.

Genome-Wide Pathway Exploration of the Epidermidibacterium keratini EPI-7T.

Functional cosmetics industries using skin microbiome screening and beneficial materials isolated from key microorganisms are receiving increasing attention. Since Epidermidibacterium keratini EPI-7T was first discovered in human skin, previous studies have confirmed that it can produce a new pyrimidine compound, 1,1'-biuracil, having anti-aging effects on human skin. Therefore, we conducted genomic analyses to judge the use value of E. keratini EPI-7T and provide up-to-date information. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of E. keratini EPI-7T was performed to generate new complete genome and annotation information. E. keratini EPI-7T genome was subjected to comparative genomic analysis with a group of closely-related strains and skin flora strains through bioinformatic analysis. Furthermore, based on annotation information, we explored metabolic pathways for valuable substances that can be used in functional cosmetics. In this study, the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and annotation results of E. keratini EPI-7T were improved, and through comparative analysis, it was confirmed that the E. keratini EPI-7T has more metabolite-related genes than comparison strains. In addition, we annotated the vital genes for biosynthesis of 20 amino acids, orotic acid, riboflavin (B2) and chorismate. In particular, we were able to prospect that orotic acid could accumulate inside E. keratini EPI-7T under uracil-enriched conditions. Therefore, through a genomics approach, this study aims to provide genetic information for the hidden potential of E. keratini EPI-7T and the strain development and biotechnology utilization to be conducted in further studies.

Efficacy and Safety of Epidermidibacterium Keratini EPI-7 Derived Postbiotics in Skin Aging: A Prospective Clinical Study.

The present study investigated the effect of topical application of Epidermidibacterium Keratini (EPI-7) ferment filtrate, which is a postbiotic product of a novel actinobacteria, on skin aging, by performing a prospective randomized split-face clinical study on Asian woman participants. The investigators measured skin biophysical parameters, including skin barrier function, elasticity, and dermal density, and revealed that the application of the EPI-7 ferment filtrate-including test product resulted in significantly higher improvements in barrier function, skin elasticity, and dermal density compared to the placebo group. This study also investigated the influence of EPI-7 ferment filtrate on skin microbiome diversity to access its potential beneficial effects and safety. EPI-7 ferment filtrate increased the abundance of commensal microbes belonging to Cutibacterium, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Lawsonella, Clostridium, Rothia, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella. The abundance of Cutibacterium was significantly increased along with significant changes in Clostridium and Prevotella abundance. Therefore, EPI-7 postbiotics, which contain the metabolite called orotic acid, ameliorate the skin microbiota linked with the aging phenotype of the skin. This study provides preliminary evidence that postbiotic therapy may affect the signs of skin aging and microbial diversity. To confirm the positive effect of EPI-7 postbiotics and microbial interaction, additional clinical investigations and functional analyses are required.

Staphylococcus epidermidis Cicaria, a Novel Strain Derived from the Human Microbiome, and Its Efficacy as a Treatment for Hair Loss.

The skin tissue of the scalp is unique from other skin tissues because it coexists with hair, and many differences in microbial composition have been confirmed. In scalp tissues, hair loss occurs due to a combination of internal and external factors, and several studies are being conducted to counteract this. However, not many studies have addressed hair loss from the perspective of the microbiome. In this study, subjects with hair loss and those with normal scalps were set as experimental and control groups, respectively. In the experimental group, hair loss had progressed, and there was a large difference in microbiome composition compared to the group with normal scalps. In particular, differences in Accumulibacter, Staphylococcus, and Corynebacterium were found. From Staphylococcus epidermidis Cicaria, two active components were isolated as a result of repeated column chromatography. Spectroscopic data led to the determination of chemical structures for adenosine and biotin. Fractions were obtained, and ex vivo tests were conducted using hair follicles derived from human scalp tissue. When the microbiome adenosine-treated group was compared to the control group, hair follicle length was increased, and hair root diameter was maintained during the experimental periods. In addition, the Cicaria culture medium and the microbial adenosine- and biotin-treated groups maintained the anagen phase, reducing progression to the catagen phase in the hair growth cycle. In conclusion, it was confirmed that the Cicaria culture medium and the microbial adenosine and biotin derived from the culture were effective in inhibiting hair loss.

Comparative analysis of human facial skin microbiome between topical sites compared to entire face.

BACKGROUND: Skin is an essential outer barrier and supports the growth of commensal microorganisms that protects a host from the offense of foreign toxic organisms. With the rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based applications, skin microbiome research for facial health care has reached industry growth, such as therapy and cosmetic product development. Despite the acceleration of skin microbiome research, experimental standardization protocol has not yet been established in the facial site and method of sampling. OBJECTIVE: Thus, we aimed to investigate the differences in microbial composition at each facial site (cheek, mouth, forehead, and entire face) using comprehensive microbiome analysis. METHODS: Twelve specimens from three men (four specimens per one person) were collected. The hypervariable regions (V3-V4) of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene were targeted for 16S amplicon library construction and classification of bacterial taxonomy. Skin microbial composition for all specimens was investigated, and the differences site-by-site in skin microbial composition were analyzed and evaluated by the various statistical tests. RESULTS: We were able to validate the independent correlation between the skin microbiome composition and the facial sites. The cheek site showed the highest alpha-diversity in richness and evenness scores compared to the forehead and mouth. The cheek and mouth sites showed a positive correlation (R2 value > 0.93) with the entire face, while the forehead sites were negatively correlated (R2 value < 0.2). Given the relative abundance based on statistical correlation analysis, we estimated that the cheek site could be considered an optimal topical site to replace the entire face. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that skin microbiome profiling of four facial sites confirms that the cheek shows the most similar skin flora with the entire face. This study would be informative for preventing bias caused by sampling methods before researching and understanding skin cosmetics development or skin diseases.

Effect of a bioconverted product of Lotus corniculatus seed on the axillary microbiome and body odor.

The skin microbiome, especially the axillary microbiome, consists of odor-causing bacteria that decompose odorless sweat into malodor compounds, which contributes to the formation of body odor. Plant-derived products are a cheap source of bioactive compounds that are common ingredients in cosmetics. Microbial bioconversion of natural products is an ecofriendly and economical method for production of new or improved biologically active compounds. Therefore, in this study, we tested the potential of a Lactobacillus acidophilus KNU-02-mediated bioconverted product (BLC) of Lotus corniculatus seed to reduce axillary malodor and its effect on the associated axillary microbiota. A chemical profile analysis revealed that benzoic acid was the most abundant chemical compound in BLC, which increased following bioconversion. Moreover, BLC treatment was found to reduce the intensity of axillary malodor. We tested the axillary microbiome of 18 study participants, divided equally into BLC and placebo groups, and revealed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing that Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Anaerococcus were the dominant taxa, and some of these taxa were significantly associated with axillary malodor. After one week of BLC treatment, the abundance of Corynebacterium and Anaerococcus, which are associated with well-known odor-related genes that produce volatile fatty acids, had significantly reduced. Likewise, the identified odor-related genes decreased after the application of BLC. BLC treatment enhanced the richness and network density of the axillary microbial community. The placebo group, on the other hand, showed no difference in the microbial richness, odor associated taxa, and predicted functional genes after a week. The results demonstrated that BLC has the potential to reduce the axillary malodor and the associated odor-causing bacteria, which makes BLC a viable deodorant material in cosmetic products.