This image illustrates the diversity of interactions between the microbial residents on skin. Each spot is composed of a different microbe isolated from face swabs of human subjects; in the background between spots, a different microbe is growing. In some places, the plate looks clear, where growth has been stopped due to toxin production, while in other places, the plate looks dense, where growth is promoted due to nutrient production. The team uncovered a striking finding: while toxin-producing antagonist bacteria are common, it is rare to find an antagonist bacteria and sensitive victim bacteria on the same person. Put another way, if a toxin producer is colonizing skin, only microbes that are resistant to this toxin can survive.