The human skin microbiome: microbial modulation of skin homeostasis

December 2, 2024

Location:

Only Virtual: https://mit.zoom.us/j/97552810110

MIT Microbiome Club Academic Seminar Series

Professor Julia Oh
Duke University

Monday, December 2, 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Summary: The human skin harbors an abundant microbial ecosystem with bidirectional metabolic exchanges supporting symbiotic and commensal functions. Metagenomic analyses of the diverse skin sites in healthy humans demonstrate that contrasting forces of the skin’s biogeography and individual characteristics shape the skin microbiome and the dynamics of its bacteria, fungi, and viruses. However, we have shown that shifts in the ecological properties of the skin microbiome are significantly associated with aging, skin disease, disease severity, and monogenic skin and immune disorders. We have used a variety of computational and functional approaches, including metagenomics, CRISPRi screening, organoid platforms, transcriptomic and spatial transcriptomics, and other technologies to probe genetic and functional diversity of the skin microbiome

Bio: Julia Oh received her B.A. from Harvard University, her Ph.D. in genetics from Stanford University, and postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health. Now a Professor in the department of Dermatology at Duke University, Dr. Oh is a microbiome expert with a focus on combining high-resolution computational reconstructions of the microbiome with microbial engineering to devise innovative approaches to create new therapeutic interventions and investigate the underlying ecology of skin microbial communities.