Skin microbiome in melanomas and melanocytic nevi

Abstract

Background: High-throughput DNA sequencing has shown that the cutaneous microbiome varies due to different exogenous and endogenous factors.

Objectives: To characterize the microbiome of cutaneous melanomas and melanocytic nevi.

Material and methods: Non-invasive swab specimens were taken from 15 cutaneous melanomas and 17 benign melanocytic nevi. Partial sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was carried out on the 454 GS-FLX Titanium platform and the resulting sequence data was analysed by bioinformatics and statistical methods. 95% of the OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) belonged to four phyla: Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The genus Propionibacterium was overall the most common genus, followed by Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in the relative abundances of bacterial genera or bacterial diversity between the patient groups. Melanoma samples showed a marginally decreased cutaneous microbial diversity.

Conclusion: Our data suggests that the skin microbiome may not be a useful diagnostic tool for melanoma and melanocytic nevi.

Keywords: Skin microbiome; benign melanocytic nevi; cutaneous microbial diversity; melanoma.