# Conflict and Cooperation between AMP Species on the skin

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2022 · $450,192

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The human skin immune system permits survival of several strains of bacteria that perform important
functions to assist the skin immune defense system in defense against pathogens and regulation of
inflammation. The goal of this proposal is to define factors that can promote or inhibit the survival of the
beneficial members of the human skin microbiome. In particular, we will focus on molecules that influence
survival of some strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) that produce antimicrobial molecules
(AMs) (CoNS-AM+). These beneficial microbes compete with S. aureus for survival on the epidermis. Our prior
work from laboratory based studies, animal studies and clinical trials with these bacteria have shown that
CoNS-AM+ bacteria are an important part of the combined immune defense strategy of the skin, and their
presence on skin will preclude colonization by S. aureus. This is particularly important in the skin disease
atopic dermatitis (AD). In AD we have observed that CoNS-AM+ are deficient and replaced by strains of CoNS
that lack AM activity (CoNS-AM-). Compelling preliminary evidence has now identified specific molecules
produced by the epidermis and the core microbiome that shape the capacity of other microbes to inhabit this
environmental niche. Our central hypothesis is that the production of these molecules dictates the composition
of the skin microbiome. To test this hypothesis we propose 3 focused and inter-related specific aims. In the first
aim will we induce divergent inflammatory responses in the skin, study the expression of the molecules that we
hypothesize will select for survival of CoNS-AM+ over CoNS-AM- strains, and examine cytokines that regulate
this process. In Aim 2 we focus attention on the microbes themselves, determining how the host factors
interact with the microbe. Finally, in Aim 3 we introduce the important variable of the harmful microbe and how
it also interacts with this system to attempt to outcompete CoNS-AM+ beneficial bacterial. The proposed
project will bring better understanding of the pathogenesis of AD, and define mechanisms why AD skin lacks
bacterial strains that can improve disease outcome. These data will be important in developing new and
innovative therapies for AD and other inflammatory skin disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10401863
- **Project number:** 5R01AR076082-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard L Gallo
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $450,192
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10401863

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10401863, Conflict and Cooperation between AMP Species on the skin (5R01AR076082-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10401863. Licensed CC0.

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