DIFFERENT PHOTOINACTIVATION MECHANISMS IN Propionibacterium acnes FOR NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET and VISIBLE LIGHT

The light sensitivity of Propionibacterium acnes was investigated when the cells were exposed to anoxia, sodium azide, D₂O or superoxide dismutase in combination with visible light (broad band red light and 415 nm) and near-ultraviolet irradiation (360 and 320 nm). During anoxia the cells became less sensitive when the irradiation wavelength increased. Oxygen increased the photodamage to a greater extent in the case of visible light than of near-UV light. The photosensitization effects were, however, more or less oxygen dependent at all wavelengths used. An effect of azide and D₂O on the light sensitivity was observed for visible light, while superoxide dismutase was effective only at 320 nm.
The results support the hypothesis that inactivation of P. acnes with near-UV and visible light is based on different mechanisms. Porphyrin photosensitization, accomplished by singlet oxygen, is the most important mechanism when visible light is used. At shorter wavelengths (320 and 360 nm) singlet oxygen is not involved and for 320 nm the destruction might occur via superoxide anion formation.     

Near-UV-induced radicals in Propionibacterium acnes, studied by electron spin resonance spectrometry at 77 K.

Suspensions of Propionibacterium acnes were UV irradiated and the induced radicals were measured at 77 K by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. Two types of radical were formed during irradiation and stabilized in the frozen suspensions. The relative yield of each radical was studied as a function of irradiation wavelength. The first radical, which was a singlet with a peak-to-peak width of 20 G, was insensitive to the deoxygenation of the samples and to the exchange of solvent water by heavy water. The action spectrum was similar to the absorption spectrum of NADPH. The second type of radical was not formed in deoxygenated samples and the shape of the ESR spectrum was characteristic of the superoxide radical. This radical was only formed at wavelengths below 340 nm.     

AN ACTION SPECTRUM FOR BLUE AND NEAR ULTRAVIOLET IN ACTIVATION OF Propionibacterium acnes; WITH EMPHASIS ON A POSSIBLE PORPHYRIN PHOTOSENSITIZATION

— Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes ), grown on Eagles medium with different pH. were irradiated with monochromatic light in the range 320 to 440 nm. Different pH leads to different porphyrin concentrations in the cells. The light sensitivity of the bacteria was estimated from the reduction in their ability to form colonies after radiation. The sensitivity was highest for the lowest wavelength (320 nm). and decreased continuously with increasing wavelength up to 380 nm. In the region between 380 and 440 nm there was a second maximum (at 415 nm) which corresponds to the maximum absorption ol the fluorescing porphyrins in P. acnes . The sensitivity to 415 nm light was found to be dependent on the endogenous porphyrin concentration in the cells. while the sensitivity to 320 nm radiation was independent of the amount of porphyrin present. These results indicate that porphyrins produced by the bacteria are important for the light sensitivity of these bacteria.