The effect of lipids on the adherence of axillary aerobic coryneform bacteria.
OBJECTIVE
A wide range of lipids are present on the skin surface of human beings and bacterial lipases are known to modify them. The microflora of the underarm (axilla) is often dominated by aerobic coryneforms and whilst many require lipids for growth, they appear not to be utilized as carbon sources. The aim of this study was to investigate the adherence aerobic coryneforms to lipids present on the skin surface of the human axilla to determine whether they contribute to colonization of the skin.


METHODS
Aerobic coryneforms were grown in a defined synthetic medium in the presence of (14)C-glucose to produce radio-labelled cells. Adherence to lipids was tested using a thin layer chromatography plate-based assay.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanism of bacterial adhesion to skin lipids is unknown. The results of this study show that a significant proportion of cutaneous aerobic coryneform isolates from the axilla interact with skin lipids resulting in increased adherence, which may contribute to skin colonization.
Bojar
R A
RA
Skin Research Centre, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. r.a.bojar@leeds.ac.uk
Tue
C J
CJ
Holland
K T
KT
D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D001365:Axilla / Q000382:microbiology*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D005989:Glycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D013185:Squalene / Q000378:metabolism; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014304:Triolein / Q000378:metabolism
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D004075:Diglycerides; D005989:Glycerides; D013229:Stearic Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; D014304:Triolein; C048159:glyceryl monostearate; D019301:Oleic Acid; C014409:cholesteryl oleate; C031183:stearic acid; D013185:Squalene; D002784:Cholesterol; D019787:Linoleic Acid; C005953:monoolein; C022618:tristearin; C013965:diolein