Propionibacterium

Propionibacterium
Emmental cheese made using Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Actinomycetota
Class: Actinomycetia
Order: Propionibacteriales
Family: Propionibacteriaceae
Genus: Propionibacterium
Orla-Jensen 1909 (Approved Lists 1980)[1]
Type species
Propionibacterium freudenreichii
van Niel 1928 (Approved Lists 1980)
Species[2]

Propionibacterium is a gram-positive, anaerobic, rod-shaped genus of bacteria named for their unique metabolism: They are able to synthesize propionic acid by using unusual transcarboxylase enzymes.[3]

Its members are primarily facultative parasites and commensals of humans and other animals, living in and around the sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and other areas of the skin. They are virtually ubiquitous and do not cause problems for most people, but propionibacteria have been implicated in acne and other skin conditions.[4] One study found the Propionibacterium was the most prevalent human skin-associated genus of microorganisms.[5]

In ruminants, propionibacteria reduce nitrate to nontoxic nitrogen compounds.[6]

Members of the genus Propionibacterium are widely used in the production of vitamin B12, tetrapyrrole compounds, and propionic acid, as well as in the probiotics and cheese industries.[7]

The strain Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii is used in cheesemaking to create CO2 bubbles that become "eyes"—round holes in the cheese.[8]

  1. ^ Orla-Jensen S. (1909). "Die Hauptlinien des natürlichen Bakteriensystems" [The main lineages of natural bacterial systems]. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abteilung II [Central Journal for Bacteriology, Parasite Science, Infectious Diseases and Hygiene, Section II]. 22: 305–346.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference LPSN was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cheung, Y.F., Fung, C., and Walsh, C. "Stereochemistry of propionyl-coenzyme A and pyruvate carboxylations catalyzed by transcarboxylase." 1975. Biochemistry 14(13), pg 2981.
  4. ^ Bojar, R., and Holland, K. "Acne and propionibacterium acnes." 2004. Clinics in Dermatology 22(5), pg. 375-379.
  5. ^ Rust, Susanne (4 February 2012). "UC Berkeley Bacteria Study: Research Shows Humans A Major Source Of Germs". Huffington Post. San Francisco. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
  6. ^ Strickland,Gary; Richards, Chris; Zhang,Hailin; and Step, D.L (February 2017). "Nitrate Toxicity in Livestock". Oklahoma State University Extension Service. Retrieved 12 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Kiatpapan P., Murooka Y. Genetic manipulation system in propionibacteria. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering. 93 (1) (pp 1–8), 2002
  8. ^ Making Swiss Cheese - David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D.