F L Nowrouzian1, A Ljung1, S Nilsson1, B Hesselmar1,2, I Adlerberth1, A E Wold1. 1. Institution for Biomedicine, Department of Infectious Disease, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. 2. Department of Paediatrics, Institution of Clinical Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Insufficient early immune stimulation may predispose to atopic disease. Staphylococcus aureus, a skin and gut colonizer, produces the B-cell mitogen protein A and T-cell-activating superantigens. Early gut colonization by S. aureus strains that possess the superantigens encoded by the enterotoxin gene (egc) cluster and elastin-binding protein is negatively associated with development of atopic eczema. OBJECTIVES: To investigate (i) whether these findings could be replicated in a second birth cohort, FARMFLORA, and (ii) whether nasal colonization by S. aureus also relates to subsequent atopic eczema development. METHODS: Faecal samples and nasal swabs from infants in the FARMFLORA birth cohort (n = 65) were cultured for S. aureus. Individual strains were distinguished by random amplified polymorphic DNA and assessed for adhesin and superantigen gene carriage by polymerase chain reaction. Atopic eczema at 18 months of age was related to nasal and gut S. aureus colonization patterns during the first 2 months of life (well before onset of eczema). RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus colonization per se was unrelated to subsequent eczema development. However, gut S. aureus strains from the infants who subsequently developed atopic eczema less frequently carried the ebp gene, encoding elastin-binding protein, and superantigen genes encoded by egc, compared with strains from children who remained healthy. Nasal colonization by S. aureus was less clearly related to subsequent eczema development. CONCLUSIONS: The results precisely replicate our previous observations and may suggest that mucosal colonization by certain S. aureus strains provides immune stimulation that strengthens the epithelial barrier and counteracts the development of atopic eczema.
BACKGROUND: Insufficient early immune stimulation may predispose to atopic disease. Staphylococcus aureus, a skin and gut colonizer, produces the B-cell mitogen protein A and T-cell-activating superantigens. Early gut colonization by S. aureus strains that possess the superantigens encoded by the enterotoxin gene (egc) cluster and elastin-binding protein is negatively associated with development of atopic eczema. OBJECTIVES: To investigate (i) whether these findings could be replicated in a second birth cohort, FARMFLORA, and (ii) whether nasal colonization by S. aureus also relates to subsequent atopic eczema development. METHODS: Faecal samples and nasal swabs from infants in the FARMFLORA birth cohort (n = 65) were cultured for S. aureus. Individual strains were distinguished by random amplified polymorphic DNA and assessed for adhesin and superantigen gene carriage by polymerase chain reaction. Atopic eczema at 18 months of age was related to nasal and gut S. aureus colonization patterns during the first 2 months of life (well before onset of eczema). RESULTS:Staphylococcus aureus colonization per se was unrelated to subsequent eczema development. However, gut S. aureus strains from the infants who subsequently developed atopic eczema less frequently carried the ebp gene, encoding elastin-binding protein, and superantigen genes encoded by egc, compared with strains from children who remained healthy. Nasal colonization by S. aureus was less clearly related to subsequent eczema development. CONCLUSIONS: The results precisely replicate our previous observations and may suggest that mucosal colonization by certain S. aureus strains provides immune stimulation that strengthens the epithelial barrier and counteracts the development of atopic eczema.
Authors: A L Bosma; A Ascott; R Iskandar; K Farquhar; J Matthewman; M W Langendam; A Mulick; K Abuabara; H C Williams; P I Spuls; S M Langan; M A Middelkamp-Hup Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol Date: 2022-02-25 Impact factor: 9.228