Meeting Abstract
The most superficial layer of skin, the stratum corneum (SC), is composed of several layers of flattened dead cells called corneocytes embedded in a lipid matrix. Several studies correlate lipids in the SC with cutaneous water loss, and have shown that the composition of lipid classes changes in response to changes in ambient humidity. In addition, a potential dual role of lipids in the SC has recently emerged, as many lipids in the skin exhibit antimicrobial activity. In this study, we collected House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in the summer and winter in southern Indiana and extracted lipids from the SC. We then used thin layer chromatography to identify and quantify these lipids. We found that winter birds had fewer lipids in the SC than summer birds, and the composition of lipid classes differed between seasons. These differences in the amount and composition of lipids may have implications for the ability of birds to regulate bacterial community composition on their skin.
