Cosmax BTI, Inc. succeeded in discovering the second-generation skin microbiome. The company had previously discovered the world's first anti-aging skin microbiome. The novel microorganism is considered to be a family-level discovery, expected to resonate in both cosmetic and biological academia. Cosmax, the world's largest cosmetic R&D and manufacturing ODM company (CEO Lee Byung-man), announced on the March, 24th that it has discovered a new microbiome group with characteristics similar to that of materials which form the skin barrier.
Cosmax's Research&Innovation Center has studied microbiomes that are beneficial to the human skin since 2011. "Microbiome" combines "microbe", which inhabit human tissue, and "biome", referring to an ecosystem. It refers to the microorganisms and their genetics inside the human body. It is often found in the intestinal, skin, oral, or respiratory organs but their individual functions have not yet been proved. In 2019, Cosmax launched products containing the microbiome coined Strain CX, which was discovered in young women's skin. It utilizes microorganisms in the human skin to activate beneficial bacteria and maintain clear skin. In a study following the previous discovery, a microorganisms were found through a skin microbiome analysis of 1,000 Korean test participants. Through this process, Cosmax succeeded in discovering a new group of microorganisms from infants and children who have high skin firmness and skin barrier density.
This is a discovery at a scale that is considered to be a novel family in both genetics and taxonomy. In genetics, a newly discovered microorganism is deemed a new family when it has a genetic domain with a difference of 10% or more compared to existing organisms.