AUTHOR=Leheste Joerg R. , Ruvolo Kathryn E. , Chrostowski Joanna E. , Rivera Kristin , Husko Christopher , Miceli Alyssa , Selig Martin K. , Brüggemann Holger , Torres German 

TITLE=P. acnes-Driven Disease Pathology: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00081

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2017.00081

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>This review discusses the biology and behavior of <italic>Propionibacterium acnes</italic> (<italic>P. acnes</italic>), a dominant bacterium species of the skin biogeography thought to be associated with transmission, recurrence and severity of disease. More specifically, we discuss the ability of <italic>P. acnes</italic> to invade and persist in epithelial cells and circulating macrophages to subsequently induce bouts of sarcoidosis, low-grade inflammation and metastatic cell growth in the prostate gland. Finally, we discuss the possibility of <italic>P. acnes</italic> infiltrating the brain parenchyma to indirectly contribute to pathogenic processes in neurodegenerative disorders such as those observed in Parkinson's disease (PD).</p>