Species- and strain-level diversity of Corynebacteria isolated from human facial skin

Background Sequencing of the human skin microbiome revealed that Corynebacterium is an ubiquitous and abundant bacterial genus on human skin.

Shotgun sequencing further highlighted the microbial “dark matter” of the skin microbiome, consisting of microorganisms, including corynebacterial species that were not cultivated and genome-sequenced so far.

In this pilot project, facial human skin swabs of 13 persons were cultivated to selectively obtain corynebacteria.

54 isolates were collected and 15 of these were genome-sequenced and the pan-genome was determined.

The strains were biochemically characterized and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) was performed.

Results Among the 15 sequenced strains, nine different corynebacterial species were found, including two so far undescribed species, tentatively named “ Corynebacterium vikingii ” and “ Corynebacterium borealis ”, for which closed genome sequences were obtained.

Strain variability beyond the species level was determined in biochemical tests, such as the variable presence of urease activity and the capacity to ferment different sugars.

The ability to grow under anaerobic conditions on solid agar was found to be species-specific.

AST revealed resistances to clindamycin in seven strains.

A Corynebacterium pseudokroppenstedtii strain showed additional resistance towards beta-lactam and fluoroquinolone antibiotics; a chromosomally located 17 kb gene cluster with five antibiotic resistance genes was found in the closed genome of this strain.

Conclusions Taken together, this pilot study identified an astonishing diversity of cutaneous corynebacterial species in a relatively small cohort and determined species- and strain-specific individualities regarding biochemical and resistance profiles.

This further emphasizes the need for cultivation-based studies to be able to study these microorganisms in more detail, in particular regarding their host-interacting and, potentially, -beneficial and/or -detrimental properties.