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Microbial Genomics logo Microbial Genomics

Volume 10, Issue 5

Using 16s rRNA sequencing to characterize the microbiome of tropical cutaneous ulcer disease: insights into the microbial landscape and implications for diagnosis and treatment Open Access

Abstract

Cutaneous ulcers are common in yaws-endemic areas. Although often attributed to ' subsp. and , quantitative PCR has highlighted a significant proportion of these ulcers are negative for both pathogens and are considered idiopathic. This is a retrospective analysis utilising existing 16S rRNA sequencing data from two independent yaws studies that took place in Ghana and the Solomon Islands. We characterized bacterial diversity in 38 samples to identify potential causative agents for idiopathic cutaneous ulcers. We identified a diverse bacterial profile, including , , , spp and , consistent with findings from previous cutaneous ulcer microbiome studies. No single bacterial species was universally present across all samples. The most prevalent bacterium, , appeared in 42% of samples, suggesting a multifactorial aetiology for cutaneous ulcers in yaws-endemic areas. This study emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of potential causative agents. The findings prompt further exploration into the intricate microbial interactions contributing to idiopathic yaw-like ulcers, guiding future research toward comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): 16S rRNA sequencing , cutaneous ulcer disease , Haemophilus ducreyi and yaws
Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Award 000409)
    • Principle Award Recipient: MichaelMarks
  • Wellcome Trust (Award WT102807)
    • Principle Award Recipient: MichaelMarks
  • Sightsavers International (Award WT102807)
    • Principle Award Recipient: MichaelMarks
© 2024 The Authors
  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. This article was made open access via a Publish and Read agreement between the Microbiology Society and the corresponding author’s institution.
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/content/journal/mgen/10.1099/mgen.0.001234
2024-05-13
2025-03-21
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/content/journal/mgen/10.1099/mgen.0.001234
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Using 16s rRNA sequencing to characterize the microbiome of tropical cutaneous ulcer disease: insights into the microbial landscape and implications for diagnosis and treatment
M Gen 10, 001234 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1099/mgen.0.001234
/content/journal/mgen/10.1099/mgen.0.001234
/content/journal/mgen/10.1099/mgen.0.001234
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