The Evolution of the skin microbiome with urbanization

Dr. Chris Callewaert, from Ghent University, Belgium, will join the Skin Challenges 2020 virtual congress which will held on November 5-6 and give a talk entitled “The evolution of the skin microbiome (bacteria, fungi, micro-eukaryotes) with urbanization”.

Summary of talk : Urbanization represents a profound shift in human behavior, with significant cultural and health-associated consequences. With urbanization came typical Western associated diseases, such as acne, eczema, skin cancer, and other inflammatory diseases. We investigated the chemical and microbial communities across an urbanization gradient in the Amazon rainforest, from a remote Peruvian Amerindian village to the Brazilian city of Manaus. Urbanization was associated with reduced microbial outdoor exposure, increased contact with housing materials, antimicrobials, and cleaning products, and increased exposure to chemical diversity. Urbanization was associated with significant changes in the bacterial and micro-eukaryotic community composition, increased skin fungal diversity, and increased potentially pathogenic bacterial and fungal taxa on skin. The results indicate large-scale effects of urbanization on chemical and microbial exposures and on the body microbiota, which could directly influence human health.

 

Skin Ageing & Challenges 2020
November 5-6, 2020 – Virtual Congress
www.skin-challenges.com