Lipophilic bacteria

Lipophilic bacteria (fat-loving bacteria) are bacteria that may proliferate in lipids.

Types

They include lipophilic corynebacteria.[1]

Cutibacterium acnes is a type of lipophilic bacteria,[2] releasing fatty acids and worsening comedones in acne.

However, the group of lipophilic bacteria are not pathogenic, i.e. they don't cause food poisoning or food infection [3]

Evolutionary reason

In terms of evolution, lipophilism can be regarded as fine-tuning the metabolism to lipophilic habitats. Some bacteria do not only accelerate their metabolism using lipids prevailing in their environment, some of them cannot proliferate without external lipid supply. For example, some Corynebacteria, such as Corynebacterium uropygiale,[4] lost their ability to produce certain fatty acids by themselves. On the one hand, this renders the bacteria vulnerable to environmental changes. On the other hand, energy can be saved as there is no need to put effort into lipid synthesis.[4]

Health risks

Most materials in laboratories and health-care centers have small amounts of lipids on their surface, and thus may support the proliferation of lipophilic bacteria.[5] However, since they are not pathogenic,[3] this is not a serious threat.

Lipophilic bacteria may also proliferate in diet fat. However, in modern food industry this is very rare[3] and at worst causes a discoloration of the fat[3]

Commercial use

Many lipophilic bacteria are a good source of biosurfactants, hence are used commercially, e.g. Bacillus licheniformis. These kinds of bacteria produce biosurfactants which replace chemically produced surfactants. Biosurfactans are degradable unlike the chemical ones.

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References
  1. FUnke, Guido; Von Graevenitz, Alexander; Clarridge, Jill E.; Bernard, Kathryn A. (1997). "Clinical microbiology of coryneform bacteria". Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 10 (1): 125–59. doi:10.1128/cmr.10.1.125. PMC 172946. PMID 8993861.
  2. Burkhart, C. G; Burkhart, C. N; Lehmann, P. F (1999). "Classic diseases revisited: Acne: A review of immunologic and microbiologic factors". Postgraduate Medical Journal. 75 (884): 328–31. doi:10.1136/pgmj.75.884.328. PMC 1741272. PMID 10435165.
  3. Jensen, L. B.; Grettie, D. P. (1933). "The action of microorganisms on fats". Oil & Soap. 10 (2): 23–7. doi:10.1007/BF02639925.
  4. Braun, Markus Santhosh; Zimmermann, Stefan; Danner, Maria; Rashid, Harun-or; Wink, Michael (2016). "Corynebacterium uropygiale sp. nov., isolated from the preen gland of Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo)". Systematic and Applied Microbiology. 39 (2): 88–92. doi:10.1016/j.syapm.2015.12.001. PMID 26776107.
  5. Ferrer, Consuelo; Ruiz-Moreno, José M.; Rodrı́Guez, Alejandra; Montero, Javier; Alió, Jorge L. (2004). "Postoperative Corynebacterium macginleyi endophthalmitis". Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. 30 (11): 2441–4. doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2004.04.056. PMID 15519105.
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