Sweat and Sebum Preferences of the Human Skin Microbiota

The microorganisms inhabiting human skin must overcome numerous challenges that typically impede microbial growth, including low pH, osmotic pressure, and low nutrient availability. Yet the skin microbiota thrive on the skin and have adapted to these stressful conditions. The limited nutrients available for microbial use in this unique niche include those from host-derived sweat, sebum, and corneocytes. Here, we have developed physiologically …