Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 6, 2025

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
06:34

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS

Published on: July 11, 2016

19.4K

Cutibacterium modestum and "Propionibacterium humerusii" represent the same species that is commonly misidentified as

Daniel Goldenberger1, Kirstine K Søgaard2,3, Aline Cuénod3

  • 1Division of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland. daniel.goldenberger@usb.ch.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
|May 7, 2021
PubMed

Insights

A novel Cutibacterium species, identified as Cutibacterium modestum, was isolated from an implant infection. This species is often misidentified as Cutibacterium acnes, highlighting challenges in bacterial identification.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacterial Taxonomy

Background:

  • Cutibacterium species are increasingly implicated in soft tissue and implant-associated infections.
  • Accurate identification of Cutibacterium species is crucial for effective treatment and understanding infection dynamics.
  • Challenges exist in differentiating closely related Cutibacterium species due to inconsistent reference data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and identify a novel Cutibacterium species from an implant-associated infection.
  • To characterize the isolate using a combination of conventional and molecular methods.
  • To clarify the taxonomic status of the novel species and its relationship to existing species, including "Propionibacterium humerusii".

Main Methods:

  • Conventional identification: Gram stain, MALDI-TOF MS, antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
  • Molecular identification: Partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and whole genome sequencing.
  • Comparative analysis of isolate sequences with publicly available reference data.

Main Results:

  • The isolate was identified as Cutibacterium modestum, a recently described species.
  • 16S rRNA gene sequencing was initially hampered by inaccuracies in the reference sequence for C. modestum M12T.
  • The study confirmed that the novel species is identical to the tentatively named "Propionibacterium humerusii".

Conclusions:

  • Cutibacterium modestum is a clinically significant species often misidentified as C. acnes.
  • Accurate identification methods and reliable reference sequences are essential for resolving taxonomic uncertainties.
  • C. modestum represents an important addition to the genus Cutibacterium and the human skin microbiome.
Keywords:
Clinical significanceCutibacterium acnesCutibacterium modestumGenome analysisTaxonomy“Propionibacterium humerusii”

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Accelerating Diagnostic Accuracy with Direct Identification of Gram-Negatives from Blood Culture Bottles09:07

Author Spotlight: Accelerating Diagnostic Accuracy with Direct Identification of Gram-Negatives from Blood Culture Bottles

Published on: May 24, 2024

1.1K
Growing a Cystic Fibrosis-Relevant Polymicrobial Biofilm to Probe Community Phenotypes03:53

Growing a Cystic Fibrosis-Relevant Polymicrobial Biofilm to Probe Community Phenotypes

Published on: April 19, 2024

836

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria01:30

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria

Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
258
Bacterial Phylum Verrucomicrobiota01:26

Bacterial Phylum Verrucomicrobiota

The phylum Verrucomicrobiota comprises at least four characterized orders, with most species classified within the order Verrucomicrobiotales. Members of this phylum are either aerobic or facultatively aerobic, with the ability to ferment sugars. A notable exception is the genus Methylacidiphilum, which consists of aerobic methanotrophs. Additionally, some Verrucomicrobiota establish symbiotic relationships with protists. These bacteria are widely distributed across various environments,...
248
Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota01:26

Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota

The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...
252
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes01:24

Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes

The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
198
Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes01:27

Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes

Firmicutes is a diverse phylum of Gram-positive bacteria characterized by a low GC content in their genomes. This phylum includes organisms with monoderm or diderm cell envelopes, highlighting a complex evolutionary history. Firmicutes comprises several major orders, including Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, and Bacillales, which exhibit remarkable diversity in their morphology, metabolism, and ecological roles.The order Lactobacillales includes lactic acid bacteria, which are fermentative...
401
Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria01:28

Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria

Anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that perform photosynthesis without producing oxygen. They primarily include purple sulfur bacteria, purple nonsulfur bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, and green nonsulfur bacteria. These bacteria are classified into the Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Chlorobi, and Chloroflexi lineages, each with distinct physiological and ecological adaptations.Purple sulfur bacteria belong to the...
328