Open AccessThe effects of oxygen on cutaneous propionibacteria grown in continuous culture
Author(s) -
Cove J.H.,
Holland K.T.,
Cunliffe W.J.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02098.x
Subject(s) - catalase , propionibacterium , superoxide dismutase , propionibacterium acnes , biochemistry , oxygen , chemistry , bacteria , food science , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , organic chemistry , genetics
Propionibacterium acnes, Propionibacterium avidum and Propionibacterium granulosum were grown in continuous culture at 0–100% air saturation using a semi‐synthetic medium. All 3 species utilised oxygen and showed increased growth at 10% air saturation. Oxygen depressed the levels of the fermentation end products propionic and acetic acids. The 3 species differed in the production of ‘oxygen‐detoxifying’ enzymes. P. acnes produced catalase, P. avidum produced superoxide dismutase and P. granulosum produced catalase anaerobically and cytochrome c reductase aerobically. The results suggest that under aerobic conditions these bacteria may obtain energy without increased substrate‐level phosphorylation and that they may employ different strategies to overcome the toxic effects of oxygen.