The potential of bacteriocin AS-48 in the control of Propionibacterium acnes

Background Global reports show that the antimicrobial-resistance of Propionibacterium acnes isolated from patients with acne vulgaris is becoming a large problem, making it necessary to find new therapeutic drugs.

Methods In this study, 23 clinical isolates of P. acnes have been identified by MaldiToff and specific PCR. The susceptibility of theses strains to antibiotics (clindamicin, erytromycin and tetracicline) and to bacteriocin (AS-48) has been established, using the CECT 5684 strain as reference. Moreover, we have investigated the potential of several chemical compounds to bolster the activity of AS-48. Finally, the effectivity of four different formulations containing AS-48 and lysozyme have been evaluated on the surface of swine-ear skin previously inoculated with P. acnes CECT5684 strain.

Results. The results presented in this work probe that AS-48 has a significant bactericidal activity against the 23 clinical isolates of P. acnes, including isolates resistant to one or more common antibiotics used in the treatment of acne. Antibacterial synergy of AS-48 with other chemical compounds has been demonstrated, as was the effect of lysozyme and to a lesser extent with palmitic acid. Likewise, the use of a combination therapy into a cream formulation, resulted in large decrease in the number of viable P. acnes counts in an experiemental model.

Conclusion. Once more these studios support that compositions comprising bacteriocins displaying antibacterial activity, must be considered an approach for medical and pharmaceutical purposes. These applications are particularly promising in light of emerging antibiotic resistance across bacteria involved in treatment of dermatological disease as acne vulgaris.