Propionibacterium acnes: A Teenager’s Worst Nightmare Defined

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource

General Background

Magnified Magnified Image of Propionibacterium acnes. Photo credit: CDC.

By Megan Lydon


Propionibacterium acnes is a bacterium commonly found on human skin, particularly in sebaceous (oil) glands and hair follicles. It is gram-positive and a fairly slow-growing aerotolerant bacterium. A lower density of P. acnes is detected on the skin of adolescents, especially those prepubescent. The bacteria mainly live on fatty acids. The normal habitat of P. acnes is in the sebaceous follicle shared with the yeast Pityrosporum and aerobic staphylococci and micrococci on its surface [1]. Despite its name, and its colloquial associations, P. acnes is not solely associated with acne [2];it is a normal resident of the skin microbiota in most people. However, it can contribute to the development of acne vulgaris, the most common form of acne, when factors such as excess sebum production, hormonal changes, and inflammation are present. Age-related differences are also noted in which lower levels of P. acnes are found in young children before they hit puberty. Acne is one of the most common skin diseases affecting more than 45 million people in the United States. In addition, in a clinical context, it is estimated that nearly 20% of visits to dermatologists are related to acne and the treatment of the condition [3]. Varying degrees of acne affects nearly all people between the ages of 15-17 with 15-20% of those cases being moderate to severe [4].

As for other opportunistic diseases, P. acnes is known to be involved in endocarditis, osteomyelitis [5][6] arthritis, and postoperative device infection as a result of the insertion of prosthetics and heart valves.

The genome of P. acnes is 2.5 Mb [7]. P. acnes has genes encoding metabolic enzymes allowing it to survive in microaerophilic conditions. When pathogenic, the evasion of host cells (epithelial cells) is characterized by the meditation of the bacterial surface proteins or adhesions recognizing the extracellular matrix (ECM) components. These components are the ideal target of use by many pathogens for tissue colonization. Other skin-associated bacteria such as those in the genera of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus express skin surface proteins known as MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules) that bind to those EMCs. P. acnes is also able to perform this recognition process while adhering to the skin but also is able to promote more reaction by traveling deeper into the skin.

Skin Microbiome

Microbiomes, in general, serve a greater purpose than living organisms just existing in their habitat. Through a combination of commensal species of microbes and their interactions with their habitat, environments are formed where the host and bacteria can adapt and regulate processes either to their advantage or negative effects of competition. The skin microbiome works identically. There is mass variability in the skin microbiome. As for microbes involved, fungi, bacteria, viruses, and small arthropods contribute to this relationship [8]. In addition, the microbiome is much more complex than once thought. Past research has tended to focus only on pathogens and opportunistic pathogens rather than the entire spread of microbes in general (even “harmless” to human hosts). In addition to the variability of the microbes present in the skin microbiome, locations of the skin and their own environments are also variable from person to person. However, even in these differences, homeostasis between the microbiome and host is imperative for continued healthy interactions on the epithelium and to avoid the occurrence of disease.

Pathogenesis of P. acnes (Acne Vulgeris)

Pathogenesis of P. acnes (Acne Vulgeris)

Public Health Implications

Public Health Implications

Acne Vulgeris Treatments

Acne Vulgeris Treatments

References

  1. ↑ Leyden, J. J. (1997). Propionibacterium acnes colonization in acne and non-acne.Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 3(108), 379. From https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.elsevier-c3dc00b6-a2eb-39e6-b2e6-bdac77b2d48c/
  2. ↑ Bhatia, A., Maisonneuve, J. F., & Persing, D. H. (2004, June). Propionibacterium acnes and chronic diseases. In The Infectious Etiology of Chronic Diseases: Defining the Relationship, Enhancing the Research, and Mitigating the Effects: Workshop Summary., Knobler, SL et al.(eds.)(pp. 74-80). From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83685/#/
  3. ↑ Bhatia, A., Maisonneuve, J. F., & Persing, D. H. (2004, June). Propionibacterium acnes and chronic diseases. In The Infectious Etiology of Chronic Diseases: Defining the Relationship, Enhancing the Research, and Mitigating the Effects: Workshop Summary., Knobler, SL et al.(eds.)(pp. 74-80). From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83685/#/
  4. ↑ Law, M. P. M., Chuh, A. A. T., Lee, A., & Molinari, N. (2010). Acne prevalence and beyond: acne disability and its predictive factors among Chinese late adolescents in Hong Kong. Clinical and experimental dermatology, 35(1), 16-21. From https://academic.oup.com/ced/article-abstract/35/1/16/6622092/
  5. ↑ Jakab, E., Zbinden, R., Gubler, J., Ruef, C., Von Graevenitz, A., & Krause, M. (1996). Severe infections caused by Propionibacterium acnes: an underestimated pathogen in late postoperative infections. The Yale journal of biology and medicine, 69(6), 477. From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2589039//
  6. ↑ Söderquist, B., Holmberg, A., & Unemo, M. (2010). Propionibacterium acnes as an etiological agent of arthroplastic and osteosynthetic infections–two cases with specific clinical presentation including formation of draining fistulae. Anaerobe, 16(3), 304-306. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S107599640900153X/
  7. ↑ Liu, J., Cheng, A., Bangayan, N. J., Barnard, E., Curd, E., Craft, N., & Li, H. (2014). Draft genome sequences of Propionibacterium acnes type strain ATCC6919 and antibiotic-resistant strain HL411PA1. Genome announcements, 2(4), 10-1128. From https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/genomea.00740-14/
  8. ↑ Leyden, J. J. (1997). Propionibacterium acnes colonization in acne and non-acne.Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 3(108), 379. From https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.elsevier-c3dc00b6-a2eb-39e6-b2e6-bdac77b2d48c/



Authored for BIOL 238 Microbiology, taught by Joan Slonczewski,at Kenyon College,2024

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