Abstract
Propionibacterium acnes specimens isolated from facial acne vulgaris and healthy facial skin of Japanese volunteers were analysed by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RAPD-PCR). Numerous P. acnes strains were classified into four DNA-types (D1, D2, D3 and D1/D3 middle type). Of these types, P. acnes D3 was predominant in acne vulgaris. This strain showed higher lipase activity and produced greater amounts of coproporphyrin than did the other DNA types. These findings suggested that D3 may be the most influential DNA type of P. acnes in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. We consider that DNA-typing of P. acnes by RAPD-PCR is both practical and applicable.
