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The Human Skin Microbiome in Health and Skin Diseases

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Metagenomics of the Human Body

Abstract

The human skin, as the largest organ of the human body, protects the underlying tissues and plays an important role as a front-line defense system against external environmental changes and invading pathogens. It is colonized by a unique and complex microbial ecosystem, including bacteria, fungi, and bacteriophages, some of which could become pathogenic under certain circumstances. The skin microbiota is complex. Several hundred different microbial species reside on the skin. Its composition and distribution are uniquely different from the flora of other organs.

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  1. Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, California NanoSystems Institute, Room 4339, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1770, USA

    Huiying Li

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  1. J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, 20850, Maryland, USA

    Karen E. Nelson

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Li, H. (2011). The Human Skin Microbiome in Health and Skin Diseases. In: Nelson, K. (eds) Metagenomics of the Human Body. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7089-3_8

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