The skin is a barrier critical for survival, preventing the escape of moisture and invasion by infectious or toxic substances. The skin is also an intricate habitat for a diverse population of microbiota. In most cases, skin microbiota is commensal and protects us from pathogenic microbes in the non-disease state. Additionally, evidence suggests a role for pathogenic bacteria in skin disorders (i.e. atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne).
To take advantage of mouse models that could clarify environmental and genetic components of complex skin disorders, we examined the microbiota of mouse skin. We chose the ear skin since this body site most closely mirrors the morphology of human skin. Mouse ear skin is also commonly used in inflammation studies. We punch biopsied the ear skin of four female C57BL/6J mice and sequenced the 16S rRNA genes.
