Journal of Microbiology

Hei Sung Kim

5 Articles

Preliminary characterization of the skin microbiota in basal cell carcinoma: An exploratory pilot study in Korean patients: Hye Lim Keum, Woo Jun Sul, Suyeon Kim, In-Young Chung, Ara Koh, Hei Sung Kim; J. Microbiol. 2026;64(2):e2511012. Published online February 13, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2511012

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Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer, with ultraviolet radiation recognized as the primary environmental driver; however, the potential contribution of alterations in the skin microbiota remains incompletely understood, particularly in Asian populations. This exploratory pilot study describes bacterial community patterns in BCC lesions compared with contralateral clinically normal skin in 20 Korean patients. Lesional and contralateral samples were obtained using paired skin swabs and punch biopsies and analyzed by full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing, with targeted quantitative PCR (qPCR) of the roxP antioxidant gene of Cutibacterium acnes. Given the low-biomass nature of skin samples and the exploratory design, analyses focused on descriptive trends rather than confirmatory inference. Across available samples, C. acnes was the dominant taxon, with a trend toward lower relative abundance in BCC lesions, particularly in biopsy-derived datasets. Microbial evenness appeared higher in lesions than controls. Predictive functional profiling suggested reduced representation of vitamin B6 metabolism pathways in lesions, while qPCR analysis of swab samples showed a trend toward lower roxP/16S rRNA ratios in BCC-associated microbiota. These findings should be interpreted cautiously in light of methodological constraints, including sample heterogeneity, lidocaine exposure prior to biopsy, absence of sequencing-based negative controls, and reliance on predictive functional inference. Overall, this pilot study highlights potential differences in skin bacterial community structure between BCC lesions and contralateral skin in a Korean cohort. Larger, methodologically optimized studies incorporating metagenomic and functional validation will be required to determine whether these microbiota shifts contribute to, or result from, BCC-associated changes in the cutaneous environment.

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Skin Microbiome Patterns Associated with Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Series
Mavra Masood, David Ozog, Tengfei Ma, Marissa Ceresnie, Aunna Pourang, Christine C. Johnson, Xinyue Qiu, Albert Levin, Jesse Veenstra
Microorganisms.2026; 14(4): 822. CrossRef

ITS1-based profiling of the skin mycobiome in truncal acne reveals altered baseline ecology and heterogeneous doxycycline-associated patterns: Nayan Jin, Woo Jun Sul, Hye Rim Do, Hei Sung Kim; J. Microbiol. 2026;64(2):e2512013. Published online February 28, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2512013

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Truncal acne represents a biologically distinct manifestation of acne vulgaris, yet its fungal ecology remains incompletely characterized. Previous work using internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequencing suggested that truncal acne is associated with altered fungal richness and Malassezia species composition; however, fungal marker choice may influence ecological inference, particularly in sebaceous skin dominated by Malassezia. In this study, we characterized the truncal skin mycobiome of patients with truncal acne and healthy controls using internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) amplicon sequencing. Skin swabs were collected from the upper back, and fungal communities were analyzed using QIIME 2 with taxonomic assignment against the UNITE v10.0 database. Baseline acne–control differences and doxycycline-associated patterns were evaluated using alpha- and beta-diversity metrics and differential abundance analyses. Doxycycline-associated patterns were assessed using paired, within-patient pre- and post-exposure comparisons. ITS1 profiling demonstrated that truncal acne was associated with altered baseline fungal ecology compared with controls, characterized by reduced alpha diversity and ASV-level differences within Malassezia-dominated communities. Beta-diversity analyses showed substantial overlap between acne and control samples, indicating limited global separation. Following doxycycline exposure, fungal communities remained Malassezia-dominant and did not demonstrate uniform convergence toward control profiles; instead, species- and ASV-level differences were heterogeneous across individuals and exposure durations. Together with prior ITS2-based findings, these results underscore the importance of marker-dependent perspectives when interpreting fungal ecology in sebaceous skin.

Ecological characteristics of the truncal skin mycobiome in acne and its association with doxycycline exposure: Hyun Ji Lee, Yong-Joon Cho, Nayan Jin, Piyapat Rintarhat, Won Hee Jung, Hei Sung Kim; J. Microbiol. 2026;64(1):e2511019. Published online January 31, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2511019

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Truncal acne significantly impairs quality of life yet remains underexplored relative to facial acne, particularly with respect to fungal ecology. The trunk represents a distinct cutaneous niche characterized by thicker epidermis, larger follicular units, and frequent occlusion, and harbors a high abundance of Malassezia species. In this study, we used internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) amplicon sequencing to characterize the truncal mycobiome in patients with acne and in healthy controls and to compare fungal community features across doxycycline exposure groups. Although serial sampling was planned, seven participants contributed a single follow-up sample after doxycycline treatment, and only two participants contributed multiple follow-up samples sufficient for true within-subject longitudinal analyses; therefore, most analyses represent exposure-stratified cross-sectional comparisons rather than confirmed temporal change. At baseline, truncal acne lesions exhibited increased fungal richness and distinct community composition compared with controls. Acne lesions were more frequently enriched for Malassezia globosa, whereas healthy controls were dominated by M. sympodialis. Across doxycycline exposure groups, fungal communities remained Malassezia-dominant with substantial inter-individual variability. Doxycycline exposure was associated with partial and heterogeneous differences in Malassezia species composition without uniform normalization toward control profiles. Because only fungal sequencing was performed, bacterial–fungal interactions were inferred from prior literature and not directly measured. These findings indicate that truncal acne is associated with a distinct fungal community structure and highlight the need for integrated, longitudinal multi-omics studies to clarify treatment-associated microbial dynamics.

Obesity, skin disorders, and the microbiota: Unraveling a complex web: Yu Ri Woo, Hei Sung Kim; J. Microbiol. 2026;64(1):e2508007. Published online January 31, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2508007

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Abstract PDF: Obesity is increasingly recognized as a systemic pro-inflammatory condition that influences not only metabolic and cardiovascular health but also the development and exacerbation of cutaneous inflammatory diseases. This review examines the interplay between obesity, microbial dysbiosis, and two archetypal inflammatory skin disorders—hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and psoriasis. We highlight how obesity-induced changes in immune signaling, gut permeability, and microbiota composition—both in the gut and the skin—contribute to cutaneous inflammation. Special emphasis is placed on shared pathways such as the Th17/IL-23 and IL-22 signaling axes, adipokine imbalance, and microbial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids and lipopolysaccharides. The review critically evaluates the current literature, distinguishing preclinical insights from clinical evidence, and underscores the potential of microbiota-targeted therapies and metabolic interventions as adjunctive treatment strategies. By integrating metabolic, immunologic, and microbiome data, we synthesize emerging evidence to better understand the gut–skin–obesity interplay and guide future therapeutic innovations.

Skin Deep: The Potential of Microbiome Cosmetics: Ju Hee Han, Hei Sung Kim; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):181-199. Published online April 16, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00128-x

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The interplay between the skin microbiome and its host is a complex facet of dermatological health and has become a critical focus in the development of microbiome cosmetics. The skin microbiome, comprising various microorganisms, is essential from birth, develops over the lifespan, and performs vital roles in protecting our body against pathogens, training the immune system, and facilitating the breakdown of organic matter. Dysbiosis, an imbalance of these microorganisms, has been implicated in a number of skin conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancer. Recent scientific findings have spurred cosmetic companies to develop products that preserve and enhance the skin's microbial diversity balance. These products may incorporate elements like prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, which are beneficial for the skin microbiome. Beyond topical products, there's increasing interest in ingestible beauty supplements (i.e. oral probiotics), highlighting the connection between the gut and skin. This review examines the influence of the microbiome on skin health and the emerging trends of microbiome skincare products.

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