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The epidermis is the outermost of the three layers that comprise the skin, the inner layers being the dermis and hypodermis. [1] The epidermal layer provides a barrier to infection from environmental pathogens [2] and regulates the amount of water released from the body into the atmosphere through transepidermal water loss.
Sampling of human stratum corneum using a tape-stripping method [1] The stratum corneum (Latin for 'horned layer') is the outermost layer of the epidermis. Consisting of dead tissue, it protects underlying tissue from infection, dehydration, chemicals and mechanical stress. It is composed of 15–20 layers of flattened cells with no nuclei and ...
S. epidermidis is a particular concern for people with catheters or other surgical implants because it is known to form biofilms that grow on these devices. [5] Being part of the normal skin microbiota, S. epidermidis is a frequent contaminant of specimens sent to the diagnostic laboratory. [6]
Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) are a family of small proteins, that carry out a variety of functions, including acting as toxins, assisting in biofilm formation, and colony spreading. PSMs are produced by Staphylococcus bacteria including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) , and Staphylococcus epidermidis .
Human skin pigmentation varies substantially between populations; this has led to the classification of people(s) on the basis of skin colour. [ 3 ] In terms of surface area, the skin is the second largest organ in the human body (the inside of the small intestine is 15 to 20 times larger).
The project was designed with the aim of countering that misconception that bacteria are always harmful to humans [20] and that humans are at war with bacteria. [21] In actuality, most strains of bacteria are harmless [13] if not beneficial for the human body. [22] Another of the project's goals is to foster public interest in microbiology. [17]
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Numerous coagulase-negative staphylococci appear commonly on human skin. Of these species, S. epidermidis and S. hominis are the most abundant. While S. epidermidis tends to colonize the upper part of the body, S. hominis tends to colonize in areas with numerous apocrine glands, such as axillae and the pubic region.