Title Antimicrobial Activity of Enterocins from Enterococcus faecalis SL-5 against Propionibacterium acnes, the Causative Agent in Acne Vulgaris, and Its Therapeutic Effect
Author Bong Seon Kang1, Jae-Gu Seo2, Gwa-Su Lee2, Jung-Hwa Kim2, Sei Yeon Kim1, Ye Won Han1, Hoon Kang3, Hyung Ok Kim1, Ji Hwan Rhee2, Myung-Jun Chung2, and Young Min Park1*
Address 1Department of Dermatology, Kangnam St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-040, Republic of Korea, 2R&D Center, Cellbiotech, Co. Ltd., Gimpo 415-871, Republic of Korea, 3St. Paul’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-040, Republic of Korea
Bibliography Journal of Microbiology, 47(1),101-109, 2009,
DOI
Key Words acne vulgaris, antimicrobial activity, cell-free culture supernatant
Abstract A lactic acid bacterial strain was isolated from human fecal specimen and identified as Enterococcus faecalis SL-5. The isolated strain showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive pathogens assayed, especially the highest activity against Propionibacterium acnes. The antimicrobial substance was purified and verified as a bacteriocin (named ESL5) of E. faecalis SL-5 by activity-staining using P. acnes as an indicator. N-terminal sequence of ESL5 was determined (MGAIAKLVAK) and sequence analysis revealed that it is almost identical to the some of enterocins including L50A/B of E. faecium L50 and MR10A/B of E. faecalis MRR 10-3. From the sequencing data of L50A/B structural genes, the nucleotide sequence showed 100% identity with that of the MR10A/B structural genes, implying that ESL5 is an equivalent of enterocin MR10. Meanwhile, we also tested the therapeutic effect of anti-P. acnes activity in patients with mild to moderate acne because of its pathogenic role to acne vulgaris. For this purpose, a concentrated powder of CBT SL-5 was prepared using cell-free culture supernatant (CFCS) of E. faecalis SL-5 and included in a lotion for application in the patients. The study showed that CBT SL-5 lotion significantly reduced the inflammatory lesions like pustules compared to the placebo lotion. Therefore our results indicate that the anti-P. acnes activity produced by E. faecalis SL-5 has potential role to the treatment of acne as an alternative to topical antibiotics.