Most people probably have no idea that thousands of tiny mites live a secret life in our faces. Microorganisms called Demodex folliculorum, however, are completely harmless as they feed on the sebum that is naturally secreted by our skin cells through the pores. The guardian mentionted. About 90% of people carry these mites, most abundantly on the wings of the nose, forehead, ear canal and nipples as well. Their existence could be dated from early life due to the possibility of being transmitted through mothers at birth or breastfeeding. Dr. Henk Braig of Bangor University and the National University of San Juan in Argentina led the first D folliculorum genome sequence study, showing that these microplasms are completely dependent on us to live. According to the researcher, these mites could play a beneficial role in preventing the pore barrier in our skin. The sequence of the D folliculorum genome – collected from a person’s nose and forehead – has revealed that its dependence on humans is likely to cause them to lose genes. Since there is no chance of acquiring new genes, their isolated existence and as a result of reproduction can eventually lead the mites to extinction. One wonders what effect these endangered mites would have on us? Here is the answer: “They [D folliculorum] are associated with healthy skin, so if you lose them, you may have problems with your skin. ” BBC mentioned the co-author of the research paper, Dr. Alejandra Perotti, from the University of Reading.
