The Indian Scalp Microbiome
This is the first metagenomic study of the scalp microbiome (bacteria and fungi) worldwide, and also the first large-scale study (>1400 samples) from India. The study identified the abundance of bacterial and fungal species on the scalp and explained their role in maintaining a healthy scalp. A novel role was found for the bacteria residing on the scalp in supplying essential nutrients. Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis emerged as core bacterial species, along with Malassezia species (M. restricta and M. globosa). A strikingly high association of dandruff with yet uncharacterized Malassezia species was observed in the core mycobiome. The bacterial microbiome showed a conspicuous enrichment of pathways related to the synthesis and metabolism of amino acids, biotin, and other B-vitamins, which are essential for hair growth. This study exemplifies a successful industry-academia collaboration between IISER Bhopal and L'Oréal Research and Innovation in India and France.