year 19, Issue 4 (July - August 2025)
Iran J Med Microbiol 2025, 19(4): 244-253 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Tu X M, Le M B N, Tran H H, Nguyen T N, Bui L D H, Tran D N, et al . Characterization of the Pilosebaceous Microbiota and Biofilm-Forming Capacity of Bacteria Isolated from Healthy Individuals. Iran J Med Microbiol 2025; 19 (4) :244-253
URL: http://ijmm.ir/article-1-2841-en.html
URL: http://ijmm.ir/article-1-2841-en.html
Xuong Mau Tu1 
, Minh Binh Nguyen Le2 , Hau Huu Tran2 , Thanh Ngoc Nguyen2 , Long Dang Hoang Bui2 , Dung Ngoc Tran3 , Sinh Nhan Ho4 , Phong Xuan Huynh5
, Minh Binh Nguyen Le2 , Hau Huu Tran2 , Thanh Ngoc Nguyen2 , Long Dang Hoang Bui2 , Dung Ngoc Tran3 , Sinh Nhan Ho4 , Phong Xuan Huynh5
1- Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam & CanTho Hospital of Dermato-Venereology, Can Tho City, Vietnam
2- Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam
3- Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho City, Vietnam
4- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
5- Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam ,hxphong@ctu.edu.vn
2- Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam
3- Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho City, Vietnam
4- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
5- Institute of Food and Biotechnology, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam ,
Abstract: (397 Views)
Background and Aim: The microbial flora colonizing the pilosebaceous unit plays a crucial role in maintaining skin health and homeostasis. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and evaluate the biofilm-forming capacity of bacterial strains derived from the pilosebaceous follicles of healthy human facial skin.
Materials and Methods: Facial sebum samples were collected from 15 healthy volunteers. Bacterial strains were isolated and cultured under anaerobic conditions. Species identification was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The biofilm-forming ability of the isolates was quantified using the crystal violet staining assay.
Results: A total of 22 bacterial strains were isolated, predominantly Gram-positive, nonmotile, and morphologically characterized as rod-shaped (20/22) or coccoid (2/22). Colonies appeared opaque and white, with diameters ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Biochemical profiling showed that most isolates were catalase positive (18/22) and gelatinase positive (20/22), while the majority were oxidase negative (18/22). Three isolates exhibited lipase activity, and eight demonstrated hemolysin production. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, Cutibacterium was identified as the dominant genus, with C. acnes accounting for 68% of the isolates. Biofilm assays revealed variability among C. acnes strains, with isolates Hn15-2, Hn4, and Hn13 displaying strong biofilm-forming capacity.
Conclusion: Healthy human facial skin harbors a diverse bacterial community, predominantly composed of Cutibacterium acnes. Notably, several C. acnes isolates demonstrated substantial biofilm-forming ability, suggesting potential implications for skin microbiome stability and pathogenicity.
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Medical Bacteriology
Received: 2025/08/6 | Accepted: 2025/10/1 | ePublished: 2025/10/10
Received: 2025/08/6 | Accepted: 2025/10/1 | ePublished: 2025/10/10
References
1. Byrd AL, Belkaid Y, Segre JA. The human skin microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2018;16(3):143-55. [DOI:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.157] [PMID]
2. Carmona-Cruz S, Orozco-Covarrubias L, Sáez-de-Ocariz M. The human skin microbiome in selected cutaneous diseases. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022;12:834135. [DOI:10.3389/fcimb.2022.834135] [PMID] [PMCID]
3. Boxberger M, Cenizo V, Cassir N, La Scola B. Challenges in exploring and manipulating the human skin microbiome. Microbiome. 2021;9(1):125. [DOI:10.1186/s40168-021-01062-5] [PMID] [PMCID]
4. Sun J, Liao XP, D'Souza AW, Boolchandani M, Li SH, Cheng K, et al. Environmental remodeling of human gut microbiota and antibiotic resistome in livestock farms. Nat Commun. 2020;11(1):1427. [DOI:10.1038/s41467-020-15222-y] [PMID] [PMCID]
5. Sfriso R, Egert M, Gempeler M, Voegeli R, Campiche R. Revealing the secret life of skin‐with the microbiome you never walk alone. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2020;42(2):116-26. [DOI:10.1111/ics.12594] [PMID] [PMCID]
6. Yang Y, Qu L, Mijakovic I, Wei Y. Advances in the human skin microbiota and its roles in cutaneous diseases. Microb Cell Factories. 2022;21(1):176. [DOI:10.1186/s12934-022-01901-6] [PMID] [PMCID]
7. McLoughlin IJ, Wright EM, Tagg JR, Jain R, Hale JD. Skin microbiome-the next frontier for probiotic intervention. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins. 2022;14(4):630-47. [DOI:10.1007/s12602-021-09824-1] [PMID]
8. Grice EA, Segre JA. The skin microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2011;9(4):244-53. [DOI:10.1038/nrmicro2537] [PMID] [PMCID]
9. Sá S, Fernandes R, Gestoso Á, Macedo JM, Martins-Mendes D, Pereira AC, et al. Cutibacterium acnes Dysbiosis: Alternative Therapeutics for Clinical Application. Appl Sci. 2023;13(21):12086. [DOI:10.3390/app132112086]
10. Mayslich C, Grange PA, Dupin N. Cutibacterium acnes as an opportunistic pathogen: an update of its virulence-associated factors. Microorganisms. 2021;9(2):303. [DOI:10.3390/microorganisms9020303] [PMID] [PMCID]
11. O'Neill AM, Gallo RL. Host-microbiome interactions and recent progress into understanding the biology of acne vulgaris. Microbiome. 2018;6(1):177. [DOI:10.1186/s40168-018-0558-5] [PMID] [PMCID]
12. Platsidaki E, Dessinioti C. Recent advances in understanding Propionibacterium acnes (Cutibacterium acnes) in acne. F1000Research. 2018;7(F1000 Faculty Rev):1953. [DOI:10.12688/f1000research.15659.1] [PMID] [PMCID]
13. Skadins I, Zavorins A, Kroica J, Pavloviča T, Bruzgule D, Averjanova T. Antibacterial susceptibility testing of Cutibacterium acnes in acne vulgaris patients. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2021;14:671-7. [DOI:10.2147/CCID.S311624] [PMID] [PMCID]
14. Oakley A, Ngan V, Morrison C, Jones C, Gupta M. Acne vulgaris. Updated July 2021. Accessed Oct 01, 2025. Available from: [https://dermnetnz.org/topics/acne-vulgaris]
15. Ogai K, Nagase S, Mukai K, Iuchi T, Mori Y, Matsue M, et al. A comparison of techniques for collecting skin microbiome samples: swabbing versus tape-stripping. Front Microbiol. 2018;9:2362. [DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02362] [DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02812]
16. Trần HH, Nguyễn AV, Hoàng NK, Trương TBV, Nguyễn PAT. Tuyển chọn vi khuẩn có khả năng phân giải protein và ức chế vi khuẩn Vibrio spp. từ nước mắm truyền thống. Can Tho University Journal of Science. 2022;58(Natural Sciences):192-9. [DOI:10.22144/ctu.jvn.2022.137]
17. Hau TH, Van TT, Quynh CN, Oanh TT, Huy LA, Luu NH, et al. Inhibition of biofilm-forming bacteria and probiotic potential of Bacillus spp. isolated from aquaculture ponds. Malays J Microbiol. 2024;20(4):430.
18. Cogen AL, Nizet V, Gallo RL. Skin microbiota: a source of disease or defence?. Br J Dermatol. 2008;158(3):442-55. [DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08437.x] [PMID] [PMCID]
19. Brüggemann H, Henne A, Hoster F, Liesegang H, Wiezer A, Strittmatter A, et al. The complete genome sequence of Propionibacterium acnes, a commensal of human skin. Science. 2004;305(5684):671-3. [DOI:10.1126/science.1100330] [PMID]
20. Brüggemann H, Salar-Vidal L, Gollnick HP, Lood R. A Janus-faced bacterium: host-beneficial and-detrimental roles of Cutibacterium acnes. Front Microbiol. 2021;12:673845. [DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2021.673845] [PMID] [PMCID]
21. Jeremy AH, Holland DB, Roberts SG, Thomson KF, Cunliffe WJ. Inflammatory events are involved in acne lesion initiation. J Invest Dermatol. 2003;121(1):20-7. [DOI:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2003.12321.x] [PMID]
22. Nakase K, Momose M, Yukawa T, Nakaminami H. Development of skin sebum medium and inhibition of lipase activity in Cutibacterium acnes by oleic acid. Access Microbiol. 2022;4(10):000397. [DOI:10.1099/acmi.0.000397] [PMID] [PMCID]
23. Yusufu WN, David DL, Taiga A, Akwa V. Identification of Virulent Enzymes in Different Strains of Propionibacterium acnes using Enzyme Assay. NISEB Journal. 2018;18(4):185-94.
24. Bozzi M, Sciandra F, Brancaccio A. Role of gelatinases in pathological and physiological processes involving the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. Matrix Biol. 2015;44:130-7. [DOI:10.1016/j.matbio.2015.02.005] [PMID]
25. Berube BJ, Bubeck Wardenburg J. Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin: nearly a century of intrigue. Toxins. 2013;5(6):1140-66. [DOI:10.3390/toxins5061140] [PMID] [PMCID]
26. McLaughlin J, Watterson S, Layton AM, Bjourson AJ, Barnard E, McDowell A. Propionibacterium acnes and acne vulgaris: new insights from the integration of population genetic, multi-omic, biochemical and host-microbe studies. Microorganisms. 2019;7(5):128. [DOI:10.3390/microorganisms7050128] [PMID] [PMCID]
27. Cobian N, Garlet A, Hidalgo-Cantabrana C, Barrangou R. Comparative genomic analyses and CRISPR-C:as char:acterization of Cutibacterium acnes provide insights into genetic diversity and typing applications. Front Microbiol. 2021;12:758749. [DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2021.758749] [PMID] [PMCID]
28. Lomholt HB, Scholz CF, Brüggemann H, Tettelin H, Kilian M. A comparative study of Cutibacterium (Propionibacterium) acnes clones from acne patients and healthy controls. Anaerobe. 2017;47:57-63. [DOI:10.1016/j.anaerobe.2017.04.006] [PMID]
29. McDowell A, Barnard E, Nagy I, Gao A, Tomida S, Li H, et al. An expanded multilocus sequence typing scheme for Propionibacterium acnes: investigation of 'pathogenic','commensal' and antibiotic resistant strains. PloS One. 2012;7(7):e41480. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0041480] [PMID] [PMCID]
30. Fitz-Gibbon S, Tomida S, Chiu BH, Nguyen L, Du C, Liu M, et al. Propionibacterium acnes strain populations in the human skin microbiome associated with acne. J Invest Dermatol. 2013;133(9):2152-60. [DOI:10.1038/jid.2013.21] [PMID] [PMCID]
31. Barnard E, Shi B, Kang D, Craft N, Li H. The balance of metagenomic elements shapes the skin microbiome in acne and health. Sci Rep. 2016;6(1):39491. [DOI:10.1038/srep39491] [PMID] [PMCID]
32. Azeem K, Fatima S, Ali A, Ubaid A, Husain FM, Abid M. Biochemistry of bacterial biofilm: insights into antibiotic resistance mechanisms and therapeutic intervention. Life. 2025;15(1):49. [DOI:10.3390/life15010049] [PMID] [PMCID]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
Copyright Policy
Iranian Journal of Medical Microbiology by Farname is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
