'Skin Microbiota in Diabetes Mellitus' by Aveen Sabir

How our body interacts with the trillions of microorganisms that live on, in and with us, is as much what makes us human as our own cells. Research into host-microbiota interactions in relation to health and disease is a hot topic. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition which places significant burden on the health care system. Obesity, innate immune response and skin complaints are common in this cohort of patients. The skin microbiota has vital role in inhibiting skin colonization by pathogenic microbes and modulating the innate and adaptive immune systems; however, very limited data are available with regards the role of skin microbiota in DM.

We have performed a meta-analysis and systematic review; despite differences in demographics, personal hygiene, glycaemic level and history of antibiotics, Staphylococcus was the main species involved with skin-related complications of DM. We will now work towards developing in vitro and ex vivo cell and tissue models to understand the significance of these interactions and address the role of skin-microbiota interactions in DM. The work will involve initially investigating the interaction of S. aureus and S. epidermidis metabolites with keratinocytes, fibroblasts and adipocyte cell lines in normal and hyperglycaemic medium. We will move towards using more complex 3D skin models later. The change in these cell lines will be investigated by using a variety of methods such as ELISAs, viability, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis assays.