Human skin is home to a large number and wide variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, collectively known as the skin microbiome. Its composition is as individual as a fingerprint and depends on a variety of factors. The microbiome supports, i.e., the epidermal skin barrier and plays also a role in the aging process of the skin.

Evonik and the University of California San Diego Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI), USA, have agreed on a three-year partnership. It aims to provide new insights about the complex composition of the microbial communities on the skin to improve existing cosmetic raw materials and to discover and develop new ones. The partners want to explore model systems for the skin microbiome.

• Evonik Industries AG, Essen, Germany