Laura Markey
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lauramarkey.bsky.social
Laura Markey
@lauramarkey.bsky.social
49 followers 30 following 14 posts
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lauramarkey.bsky.social
Metagenomics enabled the surprising observation that common vaginal microbiome member Gardnerella (but not Lactobacillus) made up at >10% of the low biomass lower leg skin microbiome of 4/8 female subjects. 3/4
barplot of individual leg skin microbiome profiles demonstrates diverse composition across subjects including multiple species of Cutibacterium, Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus. 4/8 female subjects have multiple vaginal microbiome species including Gardnerella and Prevotella but not Lactobacillus present at >10% abundance.
June 25, 2025 at 12:30 PM
lauramarkey.bsky.social
In high biomass samples, sequencing methods are comparable – however, as biomass decreases, minor taxa are rapidly lost with 16S as the limited amplicon library becomes biased towards the most abundant taxon. 2/4
Left barplot shows that as mock community microbiome sample is diluted, qPCR and metagenomics continue to detect all taxa but 16S detects only Cutibacterium. Right barplot shows that for qPCR and metagenomics detect a diverse average microbiome from lower leg skin but 16S composition is dominated by Cutibacterium.
June 25, 2025 at 12:30 PM
lauramarkey.bsky.social
In high biomass samples, sequencing methods are comparable – however, as biomass decreases, minor taxa are rapidly lost with 16S as the limited amplicon library becomes biased towards the most abundant taxon. 2/4
Left side of image shows a barplot of mock microbiome sample dilution series analyzed by qPCR, metagenomics and 16S sequencing- as the sample is diluted, qPCR and metagenomics continue to recall all taxa while 16S is increasingly dominated by Cutibacterium. Right side of image shows that similarly qPCR and metagenomics detect a diverse average leg skin microbiome while 16S is dominated by Cutibacterium.
June 25, 2025 at 12:22 PM
lauramarkey.bsky.social
The answer: not when the skin is damaged! We tested multiple bacterial species, including mouse commensal S. xylosus, C. accolens, and 3 different isolates of S. epidermidis.All delayed healing when applied to abraded mouse flank skin. [2/3]
December 5, 2023 at 7:26 PM