A human skin microbiome reference catalog and the skin microbial landscape of plateau adults

Abstract Comprehensive reference genomes are needed for the classification and functional characterization of the human skin microbiota. Here, we established human skin microbiome genome (HSMG) and protein (HSMP) catalogs by integrating 739 newly sequenced and 2,520 published samples, along with two published microbial genome catalogs. The HSMG includes 3547 prokaryotic species, of which 1556 (43.87%) are unidentified, and the HSMP contains 39,283,339 nonredundant proteins, with 64.8% of which are poorly characterized. Using the HSMG as a reference, we identified distinct features and biogeographical traits of the skin microbiome in plateau adults, revealing significant differences between sebaceous and dry skin, with 1784 of 3547 inferred prokaryotes showing considerable variation. Additionally, host characteristics, skincare, and daylight habits were found to shape the skin microbiome. This work expands our understanding of the diversity of uncultured skin bacteria and provides a comprehensive characterization of the human skin microbiome in plateau environments.