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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Med.
Sec. Dermatology
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1480257
This article is part of the Research Topic Translational research in Atopic Dermatitis: Immunology, Neuroimmunology, Skin Barrier, and the Role of Microorganisms View all articles

Understanding the Role of Staphylococcus aureus in Atopic Dermatitis: Strain Diversity, Microevolution, and Prophage Influences

Provisionally accepted
Zhongjie Wang Zhongjie Wang 1*Claudia Hülpüsch Claudia Hülpüsch 2,3,4Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann 2,3,4Matthias Reiger Matthias Reiger 2,3Michael Schloter Michael Schloter 1,5
  • 1 COMI Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analyzes, Helmholtz Center München, Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (HZ), Neuherberg, Germany
  • 2 Chair of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  • 3 Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Center München, Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (HZ), Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany
  • 4 Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-Care), Davos, Switzerland
  • 5 Chair for Environmental Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Bavaria, Germany

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin disorder characterized by chronic inflammation, skin barrier dysfunction, and microbial dysbiosis, with Staphylococcus aureus playing a significant role in its pathogenesis. This paper explores the strain diversity and microevolution of S. aureus within AD patients, emphasizing how specific strains adapt to the altered skin environment, exacerbating the condition. The review emphasizes the significance of variation in specific functional genes among S. aureus strains, which enhances their ability to adapt to different microenvironments and shapes their pathogenic potential. It also discusses how mobile genetic elements, particularly prophages, contribute to genetic diversity and drive the virulence and antibiotic resistance of S. aureus in AD, highlighting the clinical challenges posed by these strain-specific factors in managing the disease. The paper advocates for the integration of advanced genomic tools such as whole-genome sequencing and machine learning to develop targeted therapies. By focusing on the genetic adaptability of S. aureus and its impact on AD, this review underscores the need for strain-specific diagnostics and personalized treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes.

    Keywords: Atopic dermatitis (AD), Staphylococcus aureus, Strain diversity, microevolution, prophage, antibiotic resistance, Horizontal gene tranfer

    Received: 13 Aug 2024; Accepted: 06 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Hülpüsch, Traidl-Hoffmann, Reiger and Schloter. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Zhongjie Wang, COMI Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analyzes, Helmholtz Center München, Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (HZ), Neuherberg, 85764, Germany

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.