# Defining the role of cobamides in skin microbiome dynamics

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2022 · $35,224

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The human skin microbiome is a complex and distinct community of microbiota that contributes to both human
health and disease. However, the fundamental biological and ecological interactions that occur within skin
microbial communities to maintain microbiome structure, stability, and function, and overall skin health, are
unknown. Often, these interactions are mediated by microbial metabolites. Cobamides, which are microbial
metabolites of the vitamin B12 family of cofactors, are essential for metabolism in many bacteria as well as
humans, but they are only synthesized by a small fraction of prokaryotes. Preliminary work has shown that host-
associated species within the Corynebacterium genus, a dominant skin taxon, are enriched for the de novo
cobamide biosynthesis pathway, including several human skin-associated species. An emerging body of
literature suggests that cobamide sharing between microorganisms plays a key role in mediating microbial
community dynamics. However, the role for microbial-derived cobamides at the skin surface has never been
studied. Therefore, the overall objective of this proposal is to characterize the mechanisms governing cobamide
production and usage by individual skin microorganisms and within communities. This will be accomplished
through two related Aims. First, skin commensal use and biosynthesis of cobamides will be characterized by
analyzing skin metagenomic data and validated through the use of in vitro microbiological and chemical
approaches. Second, the role of cobamides in shaping skin microbial community interactions will be determined
using synthetic skin microbial communities both in vitro and ex vivo using a live human skin model. Completion
of these aims will define the previously unexplored role of cobamides in the skin microbiome, which will increase
our understanding of the fundamental biological processes that underly the skin microbiome’s role in human
health. These studies will present a novel therapeutic target for engineering the microbiome with vitamin-
producing probiotics and will lay the groundwork for microbiome modulation via micronutrient sharing. The
support provided through the F31 NRSA will further contribute to the applicant’s scientific training in the vibrant
research environment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and will provide the necessary resources to
advance her professional career towards becoming an independent scientist and expert in the field of
microbiome research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10532062
- **Project number:** 1F31AR079846-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary Hannah Swaney
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $35,224
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10532062

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10532062, Defining the role of cobamides in skin microbiome dynamics (1F31AR079846-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10532062. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*