From facial microbiome maps to actionable skin health insights: what a new JID publication shows about PMP™

DSM-Firmenich, together with Bio-Me as co-authoring partner, has published a new proof-of-concept study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, introducing a 3D facial skin microbiome mapping approach built on Bio-Me's Precision Microbiome Profiling (PMP™) platform, integrating absolute microbial quantification with spatial interpolation.

What the study accomplished

The authors set out to move beyond skin microbiome studies that rely on relative-abundance data from limited sampling sites. Instead, they combined multi-site facial sampling, absolute microbial quantification and 3D spatial interpolation to visualise how microbial community composition shifts across the face with high spatial resolution.

The study revealed a marked topographical heterogeneity in core microbial species, including distinct facial distribution patterns for Cutibacterium acnes and Malassezia restricta.

How PMP™ contributed

Absolute abundances of 35 microbial species and genera were determined using Bio-Me's quantitative PCR-based PMP™ platform. These measurements formed the quantitative data layer used in the 3D mapping workflow. The study also confirmed the quantitative accuracy of PMP™ using droplet digital PCR.

Why PMP™ is relevant for skin microbiome studies

• Absolute quantification helps determine whether specific microbial targets truly increase, decrease or remain stable.
• Sensitivity is essential for low-biomass sample types such as skin swabs and tape strips.
• Precision and reproducibility keep study size and cost in check.
• Fast turnaround and scalability make microbiome testing practical for ingredient screening, larger cohorts and longitudinal designs.