Bacteria Display Differential Growth and Adhesion Characteristics on Human Hair Shafts

The study examined how human hair shafts interacted with bacteria, specifically focusing on Gram-positive (S. aureus and S. epidermidis) and Gram-negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) bacteria. It was found that hair shafts inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria but did not affect Gram-negative bacteria. This suggested that hair shafts might modulate bacterial colonization, impacting scalp health and infection spread. The study involved hair samples from 7 donors and used methods like scanning electron microscopy to observe bacterial adherence and changes in hair surface morphology. The findings indicated that hair shafts could act as an antimicrobial scaffold, with further research needed to identify the specific components responsible for these effects.