Neuraminidase production by Propionibacterium acnes-strains isolated from patients with acne vulgaris, seborrheic eczema and healthy subjects.

Among cutaneous propionibacteria, synthesis of neuraminidase is highest in strains of the species P, acnes. In the present study, neuraminidase activity was discovered in 90.0% of P. acnes strains isolated from acne lesions compared with 72.7% of strains from normal human skin. Neuraminidase-positive strains from acne lesions, moreover, produced statistically significant higher amounts of the enzyme (X = 727 microunits/ml bacterial suspension) than isolates from normal skin (X - 392 microunits/ml). Whereas the moderate production of neuraminidase by strains from patients with seborrheic eczema is probably of no causative importance, the enzyme has to be discussed a potential etiologic factor in acne vulgaris.