Incidence and Lipolytic Activity of Propionibacterium Acnes (Corynebacterium Acnes Group I) And P. Granulosum (C. Acnes Group II) in Acne and in Normal Skin

To compare incidence and lipolytic activity of Propionibacterium acnes and P. granulosum (previously distinguished as Corynebacterium acnes groups I and II, see J Bacteriol 101: 392, 1970) from acne lesions and from normal follicles, isolates were classified by biochemical and immunologic reactions, and their lipolytic activity on tributyrin was determined by potentiometric assay. P. acnes occurs in normal sebaceous follicles of the nose of adults and adolescents 2 to 3 times as frequently as does P. granulosum. In pustules and comedones, P. acnes is about 8 times as frequent as is P. granulosum; in the follicles of the noses of these patients, the frequency of isolation of P. acnes is also higher than in normal follicles. These data suggest that P. acnes is more probably involved in pathogenesis in acne than is P. granulosum. On the other hand, P. granulosum is more actively lipolytic than is P. acnes. Examination of isolates from acne and non-acne sources did not support the hypothesis that isolates from acne lesions are more actively lipolytic than are those from other sources.