New Discovery May Lead To More Effective Acne Treatments by Diane Darling, COTA/L

Scientists Discover Genetic Make-up of Acne Bacterium

Scientists have long known that the bacterium Propionibacterium

acnes (P. acnes) plays a leading role in the development of acne

vulgaris, the scourge afflicting some 80% of teenagers and many

adults as well. A normally harmless microbe that lives in the

hair follicles of every person, P. acnes helps cause acne when

the follicles become plugged with sebum, a natural oil produced

by the body.

Recently a team of German scientists, led by microbiologist Dr.

Holger Brueggemann, mapped the genetic code of the P. acnes

microbe. They discovered that it has a circular chromosome with

2,333 genes, many of which had surprising destructive abilities.

"We were astonished to see how many genes were involved in

degrading the human tissue," said Dr. Brueggemann.

For example, the researchers found that P. acnes contains

enzymes similar to those in so-called "flesh-eating" bacteria

that destroy human tissue. It also has enzymes that break down

the skin and use it as its food supply. It contains genes that

secrete substances that kill competitors, like harmful bacteria

and fungi, in much the same manner as pathogens like

tuberculosis and diphtheria. And it uses a defense tactic known

as "phase variation" that helps it escape attack by the human

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BIO:

Diane Darling, COTA/L, is a licensed and certified occupational
therapy assistant who works with learning-challenged children.
She also has a keen interest in issues of skin care and acne,
and maintains the Treating Acne website located at
http://www.treating-acne.com

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