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Study of Skin Microbiome in AD and PS Patients

Recruiting
Conditions
Psoriasis
Atopic Dermatitis
Interventions
Other: Healthy control visit sampling procedures
Other: AD subject visit sampling procedures
Other: PS subject visit sampling procedures
Registration Number
NCT04170244
Lead Sponsor
University of Rochester
Brief Summary

Everybody's skin has bacteria that normally lives on it. Previous research has shown that people with eczema (or atopic dermatitis \[AD\]) have much higher concentrations of a certain bacteria (S. aureus), especially when their disease is active but little is known about the role that this bacteria plays in psoriasis (i.e. disease severity, biomarkers and skin barrier function). The overarching purpose of this longitudinal study is to understand how the abundance of skin S. aureus (and several commensal bacteria) change as a consequence of standard of care treatment in the URMC dermatology clinics. Other assays and biospecimens will also be collected to address a number of questions.

Detailed Description

We believe that as this skin diseases (AD and Psoriasis) are effectively managed with topical and/or systemic therapies, the levels of C. acnes (and other commensal bacteria with anti-S. aureus actions) will increase and this will subsequently be followed by reductions in S. aureus and these changes will be reflected in skin barrier improvements and changes in biomarkers. We have several aims. Aim 1 - Determine how the abundance of S. aureus, other microbes of interest including, but not exclusive to, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species \[CONS\], and C. acnes on the skin surface varies as a function of time and/or disease activity in AD, plaque stage psoriasis (PS) and healthy, non-atopics (NA). Aim 2 - Validate whether a biomarker (or panel) identifies subjects with greater S. aureus burden (e.g., abundance). Aim 3 - Identify a biomarker (or panel) that predicts clinical improvement observed in our AD or PS subjects. Aim 4 - Quantify S. aureus virulence factors from skin swabs of all three subject populations. Exploratory Aim 5 - Develop a skin microbial repository (optional) where we will focus on the interplay between S. aureus and other microbes from AD and PS patients, and age- and gender-matched healthy NAs. Exploratory Aim 6 - Develop a repository of skin tape strips for biomarker and protease assays. Exploratory Aim 7 - (optional enrollment) - To identify skin epithelial gene signatures from AD skin that are unique and not found in healthy non- AD, NA control skin samples after they are infected ex vivo with HSV-1. A secondary goal of this work will be to evaluate how Real-World treatment(s) affect these observations.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
240
Inclusion Criteria
  • ≥13 to 65 years of age (inclusive) for PS, ≥13 for AD and NA, male or female
  • Optional Bx sub study - only adults (18-65 yrs; inclusive only)
  • Able to understand protocol and give consent
  • Able to keep clinic/study appointments and comply with study related procedures
  • Must be able to read, speak, and understand English
  • Chronic AD, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Consensus Criteria (Eichenfield 2014), that has been present for at least 1 year before the enrollment visit
  • Chronic PS, according to the AAD Consensus Criteria (Menter et al 2008 (section 1)), that has been present for at least 1 year before the enrollment visit.
  • AD subjects: have active lesions on upper extremities, lower extremities, or trunk and a total disease severity of high moderate-to-severe (EASI ≥12)
  • PS subjects: have active lesions on upper extremities, lower extremities, or trunk and a total disease severity of high moderate-to-severe (PASI ≥7)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Unwilling and/or unable to complete informed consent process
  • <13 or > 65 years of age for PS, >13 for AD and NA
  • AD subjects: disease without upper extremity, lower extremity, or trunk lesions
  • AD subjects: total disease severity less than moderate (EASI <12), depending on enrollment
  • PS subjects: disease without upper extremity, lower extremity, or trunk lesions
  • PS subjects: total disease severity less than moderate (PASI <7), depending on enrollment
  • Control subjects: diagnosed with an inflammatory skin disease
  • Severe concomitant illness(es) that, in the investigator's judgment, would adversely affect the individual's participation in the study (Ex: HIV infection, autoimmune disease, severe heart failure, Hx of malignancy (other than in situ cervical cancer or basosquamous skin cancer), etc.)
  • Recent bacterial, fungal, or viral infection requiring systemic therapies (PO, IV or IM) within the last month.
  • Subjects with a history of serious life-threatening reaction to tape or adhesives may be enrolled but cannot undergo Tape stripping procedure and will therefore only have a baseline TEWL measurement.
  • (For Skin biopsy substudy only) - Subjects with history of keloid formation or allergy to lidocaine.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Healthy controlHealthy control visit sampling proceduresNo intervention Ages: 1. 13-65 yrs of age (inclusive), all genders, races and ethnicities 2. Additional 66+ yrs of age group, all genders, races and ethnicities
Atopic DermatitisAD subject visit sampling proceduresIntervention is whatever Rx the URMC dermatologist thinks is best suited to the subject as part of "real-world" disease management in her clinic. 1. Ages:13-65 yrs of age (inclusive), all genders, races and ethnicities 2. Additional 66+ yrs of age group, all genders, races and ethnicities
PsoriasisPS subject visit sampling proceduresIntervention is whatever Rx the URMC dermatologist thinks is best suited to the subject as part of "real-world" disease management in her clinic. Ages:13-65 yrs of age (inclusive), all genders, races and ethnicities.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Abundance of colony forming units (rCFU/cm^2, and CFU/rCFU) of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)year 1-7

The abundance of S. aureus, and other microbes of interest including, but not exclusive to, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species \[CONS\], and C. acnes present on the skin surface varies as a function of time and/or disease activity in AD and two control groups, namely plaque stage psoriasis (PS) and healthy, non-atopics (NA).

Standard culture techniques will be utilized to measure rCFU/cm\^2, and qPCR for CFU/rCFU.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Rochester Medical Center

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Rochester, New York, United States

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