Cutibacterium acnes KCTC 3314 Growth Reduction with the Combined Use of Bacteriophage PAP 1-1 and Nisin

Severe acne has high psychological impacts recorded worldwide, from depression to suicide. To control acne infection, bacteriophage could be used in synergy or combination with antibiotics/antimicrobials. Bacteriophages are specific to their hosts without interfering with the normal skin microbes and have the ability to lyse bacterial cells. In this current study, the bacteriophage PAP 1-1 was isolated, characterized, and tested against the pathogenic acne-causing bacterium Cutibacterium acnes. Examination under transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the newly isolated phage has a morphology typical of siphoviruses. Phylogenetic analysis, utilizing the maximum likelihood (ML) algorithm based on complete genome sequences, revealed that PAP 1-1 clustered together with bacteriophages active to Propionibacterium acnes (now known as C. acnes), forming a distinct evolutionary lineage. The genomic analysis further identified the presence of an endolysin gene in PAP 1-1, suggesting its potential to regulate the growth of C. acnes. Subsequent experiments conducted in RCM broth confirmed the ability of PAP 1-1 to effectively control the proliferation of C. acnes. In combination with bacteriocin from Lactococcus lactis CJNU 3001 and nisin, PAP 1-1 greatly decreased the viable cell counts of C. acnes in the broth.