Type

Journal Article
Abstract

The composition of the skin microbiota varies widely among individuals when sampled at the same body site. A key question is which molecular factors determine strain-level variability within sub-ecosystems of the skin microbiota. Here, we used a genomics-guided approach to identify an antibacterial biosynthetic gene cluster in (formerly ), a human skin commensal bacterium that is widely distributed across individuals and skin sites. Experimental characterization of this biosynthetic gene cluster resulted in identification of a new thiopeptide antibiotic, cutimycin. Analysis of individual human skin hair follicles revealed that cutimycin contributed to the ecology of the skin hair follicle microbiota and helped to reduce colonization of skin hair follicles by species.

Journal
Sci Transl Med
Volume
12
Issue
570
Date Published
2020 Nov 18
ISSN Number
1946-6242
Alternate Journal
Sci Transl Med
PMCID
PMC8478231
PMID
33208503