VALIDITY OF PROPIONIBACTERIUM ACNES (GILCHRIST) DOUGLAS AND GUNTER COMB. NOV

Abstract

Strains of Corynebacterium acnes, 11827, 6921 and 6922 were consistently found to ferment lactate with the production of propionate, acetate and succinate under strictly anaerobic conditions. ATCC strains of eight species of Propionibacterium fermented lactate under strictly anaerobic or in deep broth cultures. The ratios of fermentation products of each of the organisms were essentially identical indicating that C. acnes should be placed in the genus Propionibacterium as suggested by Douglas and Gunter. Serological tests demonstrated that this organism shares antigens with several species of Propionibacterium.