Abstract:

Cutibacterium acnes （C. acnes） is a skin commensal bacterium that plays a crucial role in maintaining skin homeostasis. Oligosaccharides are well-known prebiotics for intestinal probiotics, and commonly used in cosmetic formulations. In this study, the effects of fructooligosaccharides （FOS）, isomaltooligosaccharide （IMO）, galactooligosaccharides （GOS）, and inulin on C. acnes CCSM0331, isolated from a healthy facial skin, were investigated with the parameters such as bacterial proliferation, the fermentation supernatant pH, short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） production, DPPH free radicals scavenging, and inhibition of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation. Our results demonstrates that all four oligosaccharides effectively promote the growth of C. acnes CCSM0331 cells, increase the production of SCFAs, and lower the pH of the fermentation broth, with GOS demonstrating the most significant effect. Analysis of the SCFAs indicates that strain CCSM0331 predominantly employs oligosaccharides to produce propionic acid, acetic acid and isovaleric acid, differing from the SCFAs produced by gut probiotics like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Among the four oligosaccharides, the addition of 2% GOS fermentation supernatant significantly inhibits Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984 biofilm formation, and enhances antioxidant benefits. In conclusion, which indicates that GOS is a better prebiotic for strain C. acnes CCSM0331. Our findings offer a novel approach to screening prebiotics for potential skin probiotics.

Key words: oligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, Cutibacterium acnes, short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs）, biofilms, Staphylococcus epidermidis, prebiotics