An increased incidence of Propionibacterium acnes biofilms in acne vulgaris: a case-control study
Jahns AC, Lundskog B, Ganceviciene R, Palmer RH, Golovleva I, Zouboulis CC, McDowell A, Patrick S, Alexeyev OA; British Journal of Dermatology (Feb 2012)
Source: Br J Dermatol
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Background: Acne vulgaris is a disorder of the sebaceous follicles. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) can be involved in the inflammatory acne.
Objectives: This case-control study aimed at investigating the occurrence and localization of P. acnes in face biopsies in acne and to characterize the P. acnes phylotype in skin compartments.
Methods: Specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were applied to skin biopsies of 38 acne patients and matching controls to localize and characterize P. acnes and to determine expression of co-haemolysin CAMP factor, a putative virulence determinant.
Results: Follicular P. acnes was demonstrated in 18 (47%) acne patient samples and eight (21%) control samples (OR = 3.37, 95% CI 1.23-9.23; p = 0.017). In 14 (37%) of acne patient samples P. acnes was visualized in large macro-colonies/biofilms in sebaceous follicles compared to only 5 (13%) of control samples (OR = 3.85, 95% CI 1.22-12.14; p = 0.021). Macro-colonies/biofilms consisting of mixed P. acnes phylotypes expressing CAMP1 were detected in both case and control samples. Only four samples tested positive for the presence of Staphylococcus spp. and fungi were not observed.
Conclusion: We have for the first time visualized different P. acnes phylotypes in macro-colonies/biofilms in sebaceous follicles of skin biopsies.
Our results support the hypothesis that P. acnes can play a role in the pathogenesis of acne as acne samples showed a higher prevalence for follicular P. acnes colonization, both in terms of follicles containing P. acnes and the numbers of bacteria in macro-colonies/biofilms than control samples.