6 Ways Staphylococcus Hominis Protects Skin Through Quorum Sensing

Work published in the American Society for Microbiology journal mBio reveals how the commensal Staphylococcus hominis protects the skin against pathogens. The authors determined S. hominis makes six unique auto-inducing peptide (AIP) signals that inhibit the quorum sensing system of Staphylococcus aureus.

See archived: Commensal Microbes Trigger Repair in Injured Skin

The structures of three AIP signals were detected by mass spectrometry; synthetic AIPs were then tested and confirmed to act against all S. aureus agr classes and one related species, Staphylococcus epidermidis. Furthermore, synthetic AIP-II was protective in vivo against S. aureus-associated topical or necrotic injury in an animal model.

The authors concluded these findings demonstrate the protective role of S. hominis, a ubiquitous colonizer of human skin, against opportunistic damage and pathogens.

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