Genetic diversity analysis of Malassezia sp. from human skin microbiota in healthy subjects and patients with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

• Grant number: 11/16543-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Campos Paulino
• Grantee: Renan Cardoso Soares
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/08183-9 - Molecular analysis of skin microbiota from healthy subjects and patients with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, AP.JP

Abstract

Human skin hosts a complex ecosystem composed of various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. The fungal microbiota is poorly characterized but it is known that the vast majority of fungi belongs to the genus Malassezia. Although part of the healthy skin microbiota, these organisms are also associated with skin diseases, such as dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, diseases of high prevalence worldwide. However, the role they play in the development of these diseases has not yet been elucidated. One hypothesis is that metabolic compounds, particularly those derived from the lipase activity, could be irritating to the skin and thus be associated with the development of symptoms. It is also unclear why Malassezia organisms are part of healthy microbiota, but they are also pathogenic for some individuals and for others are found in the normal microbiota. It has been proposed that strains with specific genotypes might be associated with diseases. Thus, in this project, we aim to analyze the genetic diversity of fungi from Malassezia genus in healthy subjects and in patients with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis in order to identify possible patterns associated with health and diseases. The nucleotide sequences of rDNA and genes encoding lipases, as well as band patterns generated by RFLP will be compared. The results might contribute for understanding the genotypic variation of Malassezia sp. and its relationship to dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis and contribute to the comprehension of the microbiota from healthy human skin and skin diseases whose etiology is not fully elucidated.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SOARES, RENAN CARDOSO; ZANI, MARCELO BERGAMIN; BELINI BAZAN ARRUDA, ANA CAROLINA; FAVARO DE ARRUDA, LUCIA HELENA; PAULINO, LUCIANA CAMPOS. Malassezia Intra-Specific Diversity and Potentially New Species in the Skin Microbiota from Brazilian Healthy Subjects and Seborrheic Dermatitis Patients. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 2, FEB 19 2015. (08/08183-9, 11/16543-8)