Large-scale investigation for antimicrobial activity reveals newly-identified defensive species across the healthy skin microbiome

Nature Communications 2026 Open access

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Authors: Uyen Thy Nguyen, Rauf Salamzade, Shelby Sandstrom, Mary Hannah Swaney, Elizabeth C. Townsend, Sherrie Y. Wu, J. Z. Alex Cheong, Joseph A. Sardina, Isabelle Ludwikoski, M.L. Rybolt, Hanxiao Wan, Caitlin M. Carlson
+7 more J.M. Ferro, Owen D. McArthur, Won Se Suh, Robert Żarnowski, David R. Andes, Cameron R. Currie, Lindsay Kalan
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-73524-z
Cited by: 1
References: 75

Abstract

Abstract The skin microbiome forms a protective barrier to pathogens, including through the production of antimicrobial metabolites. Here, we present EPIC HHS , a large and taxonomically diverse skin microbiome culture collection of 968 strains from eight body sites. EPIC HHS captures >95% of cumulative species-level abundance across 268 skin metagenomes. It includes isolates present at

Fields of Study & Subjects

Dermatology and Skin Diseases Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis

Publication details

Journal / source
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
17
Issue
1
Publication date
25 May 2026
Language
EN