INVESTIGATION OF THE MICROBIOME INOVOLVED IN THE PROGRESSION OF ROSACEA
Marie Isolde Joura
KÁROLY RÁCZ CONSERVATIVE MEDICINE PROGRAM
Dr. Fekete Andrea
SE Bőr-, Nemikórtani és Bőronkológiai Klinika előadóterme
2026-06-01 14:00:00
Dermatology and Venereology
Dr. Sárdy Miklós
Dr. Ostorházi Eszter
Dr. Pónyai Györgyi
Pappné Dr. Terhes Gabriella
Dr. Hegyesi Hargita
Dr. Albertné Dr. Gecse Kinga
Dr. Tóth Attila
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects approximately 5% of the
population and is frequently encountered in clinical practice. Despite its prevalence, the precise
pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. Recent research suggests that dysbiosis of the
microbiome may play a role. Our research team was the first to simultaneously analyse both
the bacterial microbiome and the fungal mycobiome of the skin, stool, and blood in rosacea
patients and healthy controls.
Our analysis revealed that the skin microbiome of rosacea patients differs significantly
from that of healthy individuals, as indicated by alpha and beta diversity metrics. Conversely,
no substantial disparities in bacterial or fungal composition were identified in stool or blood
samples. Furthermore, the fungal diversity and abundance exhibited no significant disparities
between patients and controls across the sampled tissues.
The hypothesis that alterations in the gut microbiome are directly transferred to the skin
via the bloodstream was not confirmed. However, the skin of patients with rosacea was found
to be characterized by distinct bacterial (Cutibacterium, Neisseria) and fungal (Malassezia,
Aspergillus, Alternaria, and others) genera. Stool samples revealed increased levels of
Bacteroides, Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, and fungal taxa such as Candida, Saccharomyces,
and Penicillium. These findings suggest a potential link between altered microbial profiles and
rosacea pathophysiology.
Notably, the predicted microbial metabolites in rosacea patients exhibited a
predominantly pro-inflammatory profile, while anti-inflammatory metabolites predominated in
healthy individuals. Furthermore, the data suggest the presence of interaction between fungal
and bacterial populations within the gastrointestinal tract. Specifically, elevated levels of
Saccharomyces were observed to be associated with the presence of anti-inflammatory bacteria,
such as Prevotella and Agathobacter. In contrast, Candida dominance was found to be
correlated with a decrease in these anti-inflammatory bacteria. These observations lend support
the hypothesis that the fungal mycobiome has the capacity to modulate bacterial communities
and potentially influence inflammation relevant to rosacea. Further studies involving larger
cohorts are necessary to enhance our comprehension of these intricate interactions and to
cultivate microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.
