Ocular surface microbioma

    

    Abstract

    Ocular surface microbioma

    G.N. Rezbaeva, O.I. Orenburkina, I.A. Gimranova, A.E. Babushkin

    Russian Center for Eye and Plastic Surgery, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russian Federation
Fundamental and Applied Microbiology Department, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russian Federation
Ufa Eye Research Institute, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russian Federation

    The latest molecular biology methods, in particular, bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing, makes it possible to reveal the diversity of the ocular surface microbiota and expand the list of the most common types identified by cultural methods. Most metagenomic sequencing results confirm that Corynebacterium, Propionibacterium, and Staphylococcus are dominant on the healthy ocular surface. However, the obtained data point to differences in the microbial spectrum among people. Factors explaining this variability are currently unknown, in particular, to what extent it is related to people and their environment, and to what extent they are artificial, i.e. brought in from outside. Describing the microorganisms on the ocular surface is not easy due to the possible risk of bacterial contamination. More research is needed, including better experimental studies, to avoid bias in the study of the role of the ocular surface microbiome in relation to healthy and pathological conditions. In particular, the study of strain heterogeneity, overlaps, taxonomic composition and functional profile of the healthy eye surface microbiome are important for drug development, especially those based on probiotics, for the treatment of eye diseases.

    Key words: ocular surface of a healthy person, ocular microbiome, ocular microbiota, microbial flora, cultural method, identification by the 16S rRNA marker gene, metagenomic sequencing

    

    For quoting: Rezbaeva G.N., Orenburkina O.I., Gimranova I.A., Babushkin A.E. Ocular surface microbioma. Point of view. East – West. 2023;3: 38–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25276/2410-1257-2023-3-38-44

    Corresponding author: Gulnara N. Rezbaeva, gulnaranil@mail.ru