The Ocular Microbiome in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Abstract

The ocular surface microbiome is an essential factor that maintains ocular surface homeostasis. Since the ocular surface is continuously exposed to the external environment, its microbiome, tears, and local immunity are vital for maintaining normal conditions. Additionally, this microbiome helps prevent pathogen colonization, which commonly leads to opportunistic infection. The abnormal ocular surface microbiome has previously been reported in several conditions, including dry eyes, allergy, blepharitis, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Several approaches were applied to identify the ocular microbiome, including conventional culture techniques and molecular sequencing techniques. By using 16s rRNA sequencing, alterations in the type, proportion, and composition of bacterial communities, described by alpha (α)-and beta (β)-diversity, were observed in SJS patients compared to the healthy group. Conventional culture techniques indicated a higher number of positive bacterial cultures in the SJS group, with a predominance of gram-positive cocci and gram-positive bacilli. Besides, there are increased variations and multiple detections of bacterial genera. Taken together, SJS causes structural changes in the ocular surface and significantly affects its microbiome. Further studies into the area of temporal relationship, metagenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics analysis of the microbiome will lead to a better understanding of this disease. Finally, the treatment using prebiotics and probiotics to re-establish the normal ocular ecosystem and bring back a healthy ocular surface await confirmation.