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Microbiology Spectrum Feb 2022The Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium Cutibacterium acnes is a major inhabitant of human skin and has been implicated in acne vulgaris formation and in the formation of...
The Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium Cutibacterium acnes is a major inhabitant of human skin and has been implicated in acne vulgaris formation and in the formation of multispecies biofilms with other skin-inhabiting organisms like Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Indoles are widespread in nature (even in human skin) and function as important signaling molecules in diverse prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In the present study, we investigated the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of 20 indoles against . Of the indoles tested, indole-3-carbinol at 0.1 mM significantly inhibited biofilm formation by without affecting planktonic cell growth, and the anticancer drug 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) at 0.1 mM (32 μg/mL) also significantly inhibited planktonic cell growth and biofilm formation by , whereas the other indoles and indole itself were less effective. Also, DIM at 0.1 mM successfully inhibited multispecies biofilm formation by , S. aureus, and C. albicans. Transcriptional analyses showed that DIM inhibited the expressions of several biofilm-related genes in , and at 0.05 mM, DIM inhibited hyphal formation and cell aggregation by C. albicans. These results suggest that DIM and other indoles inhibit biofilm formation by and have potential use for treating associated diseases. Since indoles are widespread in nature (even in human skin), we hypothesized that indole and its derivatives might control biofilm formation of acne-causing bacteria (Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal Candida albicans. The present study reports for the first time the antibiofilm and antimicrobial activities of several indoles on . Of the indoles tested, two anticancer agents, indole-3-carbinol and 3,3'-diindolylmethane found in cruciferous vegetables, significantly inhibited biofilm formation by . Furthermore, the most active 3,3'-diindolylmethane successfully inhibited multispecies biofilm formation by , S. aureus, and C. albicans. Transcriptional analyses showed that 3,3'-diindolylmethane inhibited the expressions of several biofilm-related genes including lipase, hyaluronate lyase, and virulence-related genes in , and 3,3'-diindolylmethane inhibited hyphal formation and cell aggregation by C. albicans. Our findings show that 3,3'-diindolylmethane offers a potential means of controlling acne vulgaris and multispecies biofilm-associated infections due to its antibiofilm and antibiotic properties.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Bacteria; Biofilms; Candida albicans; Humans; Indoles; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phylogeny; Propionibacteriaceae; Staphylococcus aureus; Virulence
PubMed: 35107361
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02056-21 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2022The human skin microbiota plays a key role in the maintenance of healthy skin, ensuring protection and biological barrier by competing with pathogens and by closely...
The human skin microbiota plays a key role in the maintenance of healthy skin, ensuring protection and biological barrier by competing with pathogens and by closely communicating with the immune system. The development of approaches which preserve or restore the skin microbiota represents a novel target for skincare applications. Prebiotics could be applied to balance almost any microbial community to achieve advantageous effects. However, information about their effectiveness as skin microbiota modulators is limited. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of short chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) from sugar beet (DP 3-5), well-recognised prebiotics, on some representative bacterial strains of the skin microbiota. We measured the growth and competitive activity of these specific bacteria for the use of scFOS as energy source in minimal medium and in a reconstructed human epithelium (RHE) in vitro model. In minimal growth medium, scFOS promoted and sustained the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis up to 24 h, considered a beneficial skin commensal bacterium, while inhibiting both Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus growth, regarded as opportunistic pathogens. S. epidermidis showed the highest colonization potential and 1% scFOS was effective in shifting the competition in favour of S. epidermidis with respect to C. acnes in the RHE model. This latter effect was observed following 24 h of exposure, suggesting a long-term effect of scFOS in a highly skin dynamic environment. Therefore, scFOS could be effectively implemented in skincare formulations for recovering skin microbiota homeostasis.
Topics: Humans; Microbiota; Oligosaccharides; Prebiotics; Propionibacterium acnes; Skin; Staphylococcus epidermidis
PubMed: 35690598
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13093-5 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Jul 1988
Topics: Bacterial Infections; Cataract Extraction; Endophthalmitis; Humans; Propionibacterium acnes
PubMed: 3261615
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.297.6642.201-d -
MSphere May 2024are part of the human skin microbiota and are opportunistic microorganisms that become pathogenic in immunodeficient states. These lipophilic bacteria willingly inhabit...
UNLABELLED
are part of the human skin microbiota and are opportunistic microorganisms that become pathogenic in immunodeficient states. These lipophilic bacteria willingly inhabit areas of the skin where sebaceous glands are abundant; hence, there is a need to thoroughly understand their metabolism. Lipids are no longer considered only structural elements but also serve as signaling molecules and may have antigenic properties. Lipidomics remains a major research challenge, mainly due to the diverse physicochemical properties of lipids. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a large comparative lipidomic analysis of eight representatives of the genus, including four phylotypes of and two strains of , , and . Lipidomic analysis was performed by liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in both positive and negative ion modes, allowing the detection of the widest range of metabolites. Fatty acid analysis by gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC-MS) corroborated the lipidomic data. As a result, 128 lipids were identified, among which it was possible to select marker compounds, some of which were characteristic even of individual phylotypes. These include phosphatidylcholine PC 30:0, sphingomyelins (SM 33:1, SM 35:1), and phosphatidylglycerol with an alkyl ether substituent PG O-32:0. Moreover, cardiolipins and fatty acid amides were identified in spp. for the first time. This comparative characterization of the cutibacterial lipidome with the search for specific molecular markers reveals its diagnostic potential for clinical microbiology.
IMPORTANCE
(previously ) represents an important part of the human skin microbiota, and its role in clinical microbiology is growing due to opportunistic infections. Lipidomics, apart from protein profiling, has the potential to prove to be a useful tool for defining the cellular fingerprint, allowing for precise differentiation of microorganisms. In this work, we presented a comparative analysis of lipids found in eight strains of the genus , including a few phylotypes. Our results are one of the first large-scale comprehensive studies regarding the bacterial lipidome, which also enabled the selection of phylotype-specific lipid markers. The increased role of lipids not only as structural components but also as diagnostic markers or potential antigens has led to new lipid markers that can be used as diagnostic tools for clinical microbiology. We believe that the findings in our paper will appeal to a wide range of researchers.
Topics: Lipidomics; Humans; Propionibacteriaceae; Chromatography, Liquid; Lipids; Skin; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Fatty Acids; Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 38712970
DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00054-24 -
Bioresource Technology Aug 2012Propionic acid production from glycerol was studied using Propionibacterium acidipropionici DSM 4900 cells immobilized on polyethylenimine-treated Poraver (PEI-Poraver)...
Propionic acid production from glycerol was studied using Propionibacterium acidipropionici DSM 4900 cells immobilized on polyethylenimine-treated Poraver (PEI-Poraver) and Luffa (PEI-Luffa), respectively. Using PEI-Luffa, the average productivity, yield and concentration of propionic acid from 40 g L(-1) glycerol were 0.29 g L(-1) h(-1), 0.74 mol(PA) mol(Gly)(-1) and 20 g L(-1), respectively, after four consecutive recycle-batches. PEI-Poraver supported attachment of 31 times higher amounts of cells than PEI-Luffa and produced 20, 28 and 35 g L(-1) propionic acid from 40, 65 and 85 g L(-1) glycerol, respectively (0.61 mol(PA) mol(Gly)(-1)). The corresponding production rates were 0.86, 0.43 and 0.35 g L(-1) h(-1), which are the highest reported from glycerol via batch or fed-batch fermentations for equivalent propionic acid concentrations. Using a continuous mode of operation at a dilution rate of 0.1 h(-1), cell washout was observed in the bioreactor with free cells; however, propionic acid productivity, yield and concentration were 1.40 g L(-1) h(-1), 0.86 mol(PA) mol(Gly)(-1), and 15 g L(-1), respectively, using immobilized cells in the PEI-Poraver bioreactor. The choice of the immobilization matrix can thus significantly influence the fermentation efficiency and profile. The bioreactor using cells immobilized on PEI-Poraver allowed the fermentation of higher glycerol concentrations and provided stable and higher fermentation rates than that using free cells or the cells immobilized on PEI-Luffa.
Topics: Batch Cell Culture Techniques; Cells, Immobilized; Colony Count, Microbial; Fermentation; Glycerol; Kinetics; Polyethyleneimine; Propionates; Propionibacterium; Recycling
PubMed: 22728152
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.05.079 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2023This study aimed at investigating the influence of different variants of bacterial starter cultures on the metabolism of the bacteria used, cheese protein digestibility,...
This study aimed at investigating the influence of different variants of bacterial starter cultures on the metabolism of the bacteria used, cheese protein digestibility, and fatty acid profile. The results revealed that lactic acid bacteria had a significant effect on the proportions of fatty acids in cheeses, with saturated fatty acids being predominant in in all cheese variants. Fatty acid proportions are complex and depend on the type of cheese culture and monoculture used. Additionally, the analysis of fatty acid composition showed variations in the proportion of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, impacting the values of atherogenic and thrombogenic indices. Notably, the atherogenic index was highest in samples of mature cheeses obtained from a typical mesophilic cheese culture, whereas it was lowest in samples of fresh milk and mature cheeses obtained from a mesophilic cheese culture and monocultures of Lacticaseibacillus casei and Propionibacterium. The study also highlighted the influence of lactobacilli on the content of available free lysine, glycine, and methionine in cheese proteins. Mature cheeses obtained with Propionibacterium and L. casei starter cultures exhibited higher free lysine and glycine content compared with fresh cheeses and those obtained solely with the cheese culture. Additionally, mature cheeses obtained with starter cultures of mesophilic cheese culture, Propionibacterium, and L. casei had the highest free methionine content. Based on these findings, it is evident that the choice of cheese making cultures and monocultures can significantly affect the fatty acid composition and amino acid content of cheese and fresh milk, potentially bearing important health implications.
Topics: Lactobacillales; Fatty Acids; Cheese; Lysine; Propionibacterium; Methionine; Fabaceae; Glycine; Racemethionine
PubMed: 37717086
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42633-w -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Feb 1980Botryomycosis ofthe liver developed in a patient receiving corticosteroid therapy. The botyromycosis was caused by Propionibacterium acnes, which grew only...
Botryomycosis ofthe liver developed in a patient receiving corticosteroid therapy. The botyromycosis was caused by Propionibacterium acnes, which grew only anaerobically. The patient was successfully treated medically and at followup is asymptomatic.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Bacterial Infections; Female; Humans; Liver Diseases; Middle Aged; Penicillin G; Propionibacterium acnes
PubMed: 7358842
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.11.2.184-185.1980 -
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy Sep 2021Skin is the first line of defense against harmful external environmental factors. Skin flora living on the skin surface impact skin health and skin disease. Bacteria,...
BACKGROUND
Skin is the first line of defense against harmful external environmental factors. Skin flora living on the skin surface impact skin health and skin disease. Bacteria, form part of the unique and complex skin micro-ecological system. For example, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a member of the anaerobic organisms and is involved in the induction of skin acne. It produces porphyrins that absorb ultraviolet light and emit red fluorescence in response. As a result, fluorescence surveillance of the skin can be important in both the diagnosis of skin acne and the evaluation of therapeutic effects. Many different measurement methods for single skin biophysical properties have been reported.. This study focused on the age-dependent changes in porphyrins for normal skin, and developed a novel algorithm to evaluate porphyrins using the fluorescence images by image processing quantitatively.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An extraction algorithm was proposed for the segmentation of porphyrin fluorescence images in OpenCV. The algorithm consisted primarily of preprocessing, conversion from RGB color space to HSV color space, and classification of fluorescence. There are 3595 healthy Japanese aged 16-85 years enrolled in the study and fluorescence images were acquired from their cheek sites under 375 nm UV-LED excitation. Age-related fluorescence variation was conducted applying the algorithm implemented.
RESULTS
A new extraction algorithm has been proposed with fluorescence image input and three indexes output, including the number of fluorescence, area of fluorescence, and mean intensity of fluorescence. Proposed algorithm was verified by three parameters, the accuracy, sensitivity, and precision, which refer to the ability of algorithm to detect the number of fluorescence correctly and repeatedly. The verification results were 71%, 72%, and 88% respectively, taking a validly fundamental step for skin health record and analysis. Furthermore, large-scale fluorescence image segmentation results revealed that similar trends were coming out for all three indexes in cheek as people get older. All the fluorescence number, area and mean intensity arrived at the highest at 30 years old and fell off since then.
CONCLUSION
The number, area, and fluorescence intensity of porphyrins can be extracted well from fluorescence images with the proposed algorithm in the study, which has the potential to aid in thediagnosis of skin acne and predict skin conditions as an assisted tool. It is implicated that fluorescence status is influenced by age, which rises to the peak around 30 years old for normal cheek's skin.
Topics: Adult; Algorithms; Humans; Photochemotherapy; Photography; Photosensitizing Agents; Porphyrins; Propionibacterium acnes
PubMed: 34129959
DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102388 -
Microbiome Nov 2018Even though human sweat is odorless, bacterial growth and decomposition of specific odor precursors in it is believed to give rise to body odor in humans. While...
BACKGROUND
Even though human sweat is odorless, bacterial growth and decomposition of specific odor precursors in it is believed to give rise to body odor in humans. While mechanisms of odor generation have been widely studied in adults, little is known for teenagers and pre-pubescent children who have distinct sweat composition from immature apocrine and sebaceous glands, but are arguably more susceptible to the social and psychological impact of malodor.
RESULTS
We integrated information from whole microbiome analysis of multiple skin sites (underarm, neck, and head) and multiple time points (1 h and 8 h after bath), analyzing 180 samples in total to perform the largest metagenome-wide association study to date on malodor. Significant positive correlations were observed between odor intensity and the relative abundance of Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Cutibacterium avidum, as well as negative correlation with Acinetobacter schindleri and Cutibacterium species. Metabolic pathway analysis highlighted the association of isovaleric and acetic acid production (sour odor) from enriched S. epidermidis (teen underarm) and S. hominis (child neck) enzymes and sulfur production from Staphylococcus species (teen underarm) with odor intensity, in good agreement with observed odor characteristics in pre-pubescent children and teenagers. Experiments with cultures on human and artificial sweat confirmed the ability of S. hominis and S. epidermidis to independently produce malodor with distinct odor characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS
These results showcase the power of skin metagenomics to study host-microbial co-metabolic interactions, identifying distinct pathways for odor generation from sweat in pre-pubescent children and teenagers and highlighting key enzymatic targets for intervention.
Topics: Acetic Acid; Acinetobacter; Adolescent; Axilla; Bacteria; Child; Female; Head; Hemiterpenes; Humans; Male; Metagenomics; Neck; Odorants; Pentanoic Acids; Propionibacteriaceae; Puberty; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Skin; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Staphylococcus hominis; Sulfur; Sweat
PubMed: 30497517
DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0588-z -
Journal of Nanobiotechnology Nov 2021Acne is a common skin disorder that involves an infection inside the hair follicle, which is usually treated with antibiotics, resulting in unbalanced skin microbiota...
BACKGROUND
Acne is a common skin disorder that involves an infection inside the hair follicle, which is usually treated with antibiotics, resulting in unbalanced skin microbiota and microbial resistance. For this reason, we developed polymeric nanoparticles encapsulating thymol, a natural active compound with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In this work, optimization physicochemical characterization, biopharmaceutical behavior and therapeutic efficacy of this novel nanostructured system were assessed.
RESULTS
Thymol NPs (TH-NP) resulted on suitable average particle size below 200 nm with a surface charge around - 28 mV and high encapsulation efficiency (80%). TH-NP released TH in a sustained manner and provide a slow-rate penetration into the hair follicle, being highly retained inside the skin. TH-NP possess a potent antimicrobial activity against Cutibacterium acnes and minor effect towards Staphylococcus epidermis, the major resident of the healthy skin microbiota. Additionally, the stability and sterility of developed NPs were maintained along storage.
CONCLUSION
TH-NP showed a promising and efficient alternative for the treatment of skin acne infection, avoiding antibiotic administration, reducing side effects, and preventing microbial drug resistance, without altering the healthy skin microbiota. Additionally, TH-NP enhanced TH antioxidant activity, constituting a natural, preservative-free, approach for acne treatment.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antioxidants; Cell Line; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Particle Size; Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; Propionibacteriaceae; Skin; Thymol
PubMed: 34749747
DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-01092-z