{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:49:24Z","timestamp":1787028564069,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]],"date-time":"2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747872000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Xjenza Malta (Villa Bighi, Kalkara KKR 1320, Malta) through the FUSION: R&amp;I Technology Development Program LITE","award":["R&I-2022-019L"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["R&I-2022-019L"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological condition strongly associated with disruptions in the skin microbiota, specifically involving key species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. This study investigates the efficacy of SkinDuoTM, a topical probiotic containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, in modulating the skin microbiota and improving clinical outcomes in patients with acne vulgaris. Over a 4-week to 8-week observational study period, microbial composition and diversity shifts were analyzed using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing. Patient responses were categorized into \u201cgood\u201d responders (showing significant clinical improvement) and \u201cno_change\u201d responders (with minimal or no improvement). SkinDuoTM treatment resulted in lower post-treatment Cutibacterium acnes abundance in the \u201cgood\u201d group compared to the \u201cno_change\u201d group. The \u201cgood\u201d group maintained a stable level of alpha diversity following treatment. In contrast, the \u201cno_change\u201d group exhibited a marked reduction in microbial diversity. Beta diversity analysis revealed distinct clustering patterns associated with improved clinical outcomes. These findings suggest that the preservation of microbial richness and evenness may serve as a potential biomarker for positive response to probiotic therapy. This study highlights the potential of SkinDuoTM to restore microbial balance and alleviate acne symptoms, contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting microbiome-based therapeutic strategies in dermatology.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26115000","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]],"date-time":"2025-05-22T10:24:45Z","timestamp":1747909485000},"page":"5000","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["SkinDuoTM as a Targeted Probiotic Therapy: Shifts in Skin Microbiota and Clinical Outcomes in Acne Patients"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5998-0654","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuele","family":"Biazzo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"The BioArte Ltd., Malta Life Science Park (LS2.1.10, LS2.1.12-LS2.1.15), Triq San Giljan, SGN 3000 San Gwann, Malta"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8338-8212","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"David","family":"Pinzauti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The BioArte Ltd., Malta Life Science Park (LS2.1.10, LS2.1.12-LS2.1.15), Triq San Giljan, SGN 3000 San Gwann, Malta"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5391-3378","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christine","family":"Podrini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The BioArte Ltd., Malta Life Science Park (LS2.1.10, LS2.1.12-LS2.1.15), Triq San Giljan, SGN 3000 San Gwann, Malta"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"277","DOI":"10.1080\/09546634.2019.1654075","article-title":"Acne vulgaris: New evidence in pathogenesis and future modalities of treatment","volume":"32","author":"Hazarika","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Dermatol. Treat."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nied\u017awiedzka, A., Micallef, M.P., Biazzo, M., and Podrini, C. (2024). The Role of the Skin Microbiome in Acne: Challenges and Future Therapeutic Opportunities. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 25.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms252111422"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chom.2021.12.007","article-title":"Anatomy Promotes Neutral Coexistence of Strains in the Human Skin Microbiome","volume":"30","author":"Conwill","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cell Host Microbe"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2152","DOI":"10.1038\/jid.2013.21","article-title":"Propionibacterium acnes Strain Populations in the Human Skin Microbiome Associated with Acne","volume":"133","author":"Tomida","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Investig. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"O\u2019Neill, A.M., and Gallo, R.L. (2018). 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