Skin Microbiota Profiles from Tape Stripping and Skin Biopsy Samples of Patients with Psoriasis Treated with Narrowband Ultraviolet B

Atiya Rungjang,1 Jitlada Meephansan,1 Sunchai Payungporn,2 Vorthon Sawaswong,2 Prangwalai Chanchaem,2 Purit Pureesrisak,3 Jongkonnee Wongpiyabovorn,4 Hok Bing Thio5 1Division of Dermatology, Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand; 2The Research Unit of Systems Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; 3Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Rajavithi Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok, Thailand; 4Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; 5Department of Dermatology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: Jitlada Meephansan, Division of Dermatology, Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand, Tel +66 0 2564-4444, ext.1535, Fax +66 0 2564-4440, ext.7594, Email kae_mdcu@yahoo.comPurpose: Although the pathogenesis of psoriasis involves the dermis, most previous studies collected samples using the swab technique. A recent study examining the microbiomes obtained via both skin biopsies and swabs revealed a significant difference in normal skin. We hypothesized that the microbiome profile of patients with psoriasis from tape stripping and skin biopsy might be different. This study sought to contribute to microbiome research on psoriasis by investigating the changes in the microbiome during narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy by comparing the results from the different sampling techniques of tape stripping and skin biopsy.Patients and Methods: Twenty-three participants, including 14 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and nine healthy controls, were recruited, and nine patients with psoriasis completed 20-sessions of NBUVB treatment. Skin microbiota from both techniques was analyzed using the 1