1032 Characterization of the human scalp hair follicle microbiome reveals differential spatial distribution, abundance and viability of intrafollicular microbiota and modulation of hair growth and metabolism by staphylococcus epidermidis

Dysbiosis of the human hair follicle (HF) is associated with many HF-associated diseases, such as acne vulgaris, hidradenitis suppurativa, and alopecia areata, selected antibiotics may impact on growth. Yet, microbiome scalp HFs its functional roles in HF biology remain poorly characterized. Therefore, we used laser-capture microdissection, shotgun metagenomics (with propidium monoazide [PMA] viability testing) FISH to generate first comprehensive map. This revealed significant compartment-, tissue lineage- donor age-dependent variations abundance different species. Staphylococcus epidermidis demonstrated greatest between compartments, while Cutibacterium acnes Malassezia restricta were found ubiquitously most abundant viable commensals. Scalp infection S. epidermidis-specific lytic bacteriophages, SEP1,ex vivo induced dysbiosis inhibited transcription genes known regulate development cycling, apoptosis or immune status. Finally, tested whether a key metabolite other core commensals can modulate functions. showed that butyrate delayed catagen promoted autophagy, mitochondrial activity, gp100, dermcidin expression ex vivo. invites novel strategy for managing growth disorders by targeting defined constituents and/or their metabolites.