Gene

Context (archaeology)

Commensalism

Linguistics

Philosophy

Bacteria

Biology

Pragmatics

Computational biology

Paleontology

Immunology

Genetics

White (mutation)

Microbiome

Bioinformatics

Microbiology

Grice

Wound healing

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

Breach of the skin barrier and subsequent wound healing occur in the context of microbial communities of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These polymicrobial communities are dynamic and important components of the wound environment and are associated with differential healing outcomes. Here, we highlight both culture-dependent and -independent methods that have furthered our understanding of the wound microbiome. We discuss common themes that have developed from such studies about the microbial inhabitants of diverse wound types. We additionally explore the wide range of microbial mechanisms that influence healing, from invading pathogens to beneficial commensals. These insights can be leveraged to better predict healing outcomes and derive novel microbial-based therapies for chronic wounds.

The Wound Microbiome