Skin Virome

The human skin is covered in many microbes, and until recently, the viral component has remained poorly understood. A recent paper presents the research into the human skin virome that I worked on while in the Dermatology Department at the University of Pennsylvania.

A cross-section of the skin (showing viruses and other microbes).

Thanks to Geof Hannigan for conceptualizing and taking the lead on this project. You can read his description of it and an overview of the results here:
http://prophage.blogspot.com/2015/10/new-study-looking-at-viruses-colonizing.html

There is also a good article for the general public here that describes the work:

http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/11/vast-uncharted-viral-world-discovered-on-human-skin/

- Brendan

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Reference

Hannigan, G. D., J. S. Meisel, A. S. Tyldsley, Q. Zheng, B. P. Hodkinson, A. J. SanMiguel, S. Minot, F. D. Bushman, and E. A. Grice. 2015. The human skin double-stranded DNA virome: topographical and temporal diversity, genetic enrichment, and dynamic associations with the host microbiome. mBio 6(5): e01578-15.
Download publication (PDF file)