Propionibacterium

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Propionibacterium
Propionibacterium acnes
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Actinobacteria
Class: Actinobacteria
Order: Actinomycetales
Suborder: Propionibacterineae
Family: Propionibacteriaceae
Genus: Propionibacterium
Species

Propionibacterium is a Gram-positive, rod shaped genus of bacteria named for their unique metabolism: They are able to synthesize propionic acid by using unusual transcarboxylase enzymes.[2]

Its members are primarily facultative parasites and commensals of humans and other animals, living in and around the sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and other areas of the skin. They are virtually ubiquitous and do not cause problems for most people, but propionobacteria have been implicated in acne and other skin conditions.[3] One study found that Propionibacterium were the most prevalent human skin-associated microorganism.[4]

Members of the genus Propionibacterium are widely used in the production of vitamin B12, tetrapyrrole compounds, and propionic acid as well as in probiotic and cheese industries.[5]

The strain Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii is used in cheesemaking to create CO2 bubbles that become "eyes", round holes in the cheese.[6]

References

  1. Propionibacterium at National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
  2. Cheung, Y.F., Fung, C., and Walsh, C. "Stereochemistry of propionyl-coenzyme A and pyruvate carboxylations catalyzed by transcarboxylase." 1975. Biochemistry 14(13), pg 2981.
  3. Bojar, R., and Holland, K. "Acne and propionibacterium acnes." 2004. Clinics in Dermatology 22(5), pg. 375-379.
  4. Rust, Susanne (4 February 2012). "UC Berkeley Bacteria Study: Research Shows Humans A Major Source Of Germs". Huffington Post (San Francisco). Retrieved 2012-04-06. 
  5. Kiatpapan P., Murooka Y. Genetic manipulation system in propionibacteria. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering. 93 (1) (pp 1-8), 2002
  6. Making Swiss Cheese - David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D.
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