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Brevibacteria spp.

Morphology
 Irregular rods. Coccoid forms with coryneform appearance. They are arranged singly
or in pairs and often at an angle to give "V" formations. This organism segments into
small cocci in older cultures. Size: 0.6-1.2 micrometers by 1.5-6 micrometers
Physiology
 Brevibacteria spp. Are strict aerobes. They are Chemoorganotrophs with a respiratory
metabolism. Generally, biochemically inert toward carbohydrates, but proteolytically
active; non-fermentative.
Benefits
 There are no known pathogens with these bacteria, however there are some known
pathogens with different species in the genus Brevibacterium. They are not common
bacteria that causes infection.
Harm
 They are normal human foot flora and are thought to contribute to foot odor.
 Staphylococcus Aureus

Morphology
 S. aureus cells are Gram-positive and appear in spherical shape. They are often in
clusters resembling bunch of grapes when observed under light microscope after
Gram staining, they are round, convex, and 1-4 mm in diameter with a sharp border
Physiology
 The growth and survival of S. aureus is dependent on a number of environmental
factors such as temperature, water activity, pH, the presence of oxygen and
composition of the food. The temperature range for growth of S. aureus is 7–48°C.
 S. aureus is uniquely resistant to adverse conditions such as low aw, high salt content
and osmotic stress.
 S. aureus is a facultative anaerobe so can grow under both aerobic and anaerobic
 conditions. However, growth occurs at a much slower rate under anaerobic conditions
Benefits
 S. aureus is part of the normal human flora (bacteria that normally reside in or on
humans) and does not usually cause infection. They are bacteria living on or in the
human body, but are not causing infection, it is called “colonization.”
Harm
 It is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections such as abscesses (boils),
furuncles, and cellulitis if it goes through deeper part of a skin. Although most staph
infections are not serious, S. aureus can cause serious infections such as bloodstream
infections, pneumonia, or bone and joint infections.
 Corynebacterium jeikeium

Morphology
 Colonies are low convex, greyhish white, small, club-shaped bacillus. Corynebacteria
are gram positive, catalase-positive, aerobic, mostly non-motile rods. Cell dimension
can be from 0.3 to 0.8 μm in diameter and 1.5 to 8.0 μm in length
Physiology
 Corynebacterium jeikeium is a "lipophilic" bacterial species, meaning its growth is
generally enhanced by the presence of lipids. Another special metabolic feature in C.
jeikeium is their utilization of carbohydrates.
Benefits
 Corynebacterium jeikeium is considered part of the normal flora of foot, similar to S.
epidermidis. This bacterium species resides on the skin, foot, hands of most humans
 C. jeikeium may offer epidermal protection and produces bacteriocin-like compounds
used to ward off potential pathogens and competitors
Harm
 Corynebacterium jeikeium is a multidrug-resistant bacteria of the human skin flora
that causes infection in severely immunocompromised patients with indwelling
medical devices.
 Corynebacterium jeikeium are mainly involved in ensuring the availability of
exogenous fatty acids by damaging the host tissue.
 Propionibacterium acnes

Morphology
 Colonies appear convex, semi-opaque, and glistening. Colonies have been seen
pigmented in an array of colors from white to red.

Physiology
 Propionibacterium acnes is a Gram-positive anaerobic but aerotolerant bacterium
present in sebaceous follicle-rich areas of human skin, such as the face, upper chest,
hands, foot and back. The bacterium is a major commensal of the human skin,
accounting for a large proportion of the total human skin microbiota. Metabolism is
primarily fermentative, with complex nutritional requirements.
Benefits
 The species populates skin pores and hair follicles and feeds on sebaceous matter.
This is a fatty substance produced in glands to keep the skin waterproof. P. acnes is a
benign skin bacterium which can help the skin on the foot by stopping harmful
bacteria getting into the pores

Harm
 P. acnes is a gram-positive commensal bacterium that causes acne on the skin. P.
acnes releases lipase that produces fatty acids by digesting sebum, creating
inflammation of the skin.
 Staphylococcus epidermis

Morphology
 The S. epidermidis have Small, White, Round, Opaque colony
Physiology
 S. epidermidis lives on everyone's skin. The bacteria prefer sweaty places, such as
your armpits, but are also found on your back and in your nostrils. Together with
other micro-organisms, they produce substances from sweat, bringing about the body
odor associated with perspiration.
 The mechanisms that S. epidermidis uses to survive during infection are in general of
a passive nature, reflecting their possible origin in the commensal life of this
bacterium. Most importantly, S. epidermidis excels in forming biofilms, sticky
agglomerations that inhibit major host defense mechanisms.
Benefits
 S. epidermidis stimulates antimicrobial peptide production by skin cells, which may
provide protection against pathogenic bacteria
 S. epidermidis skin colonization may help the cutaneous immune system distinguish
between commensal and pathogenic bacteria.
 S. epidermidis have gained much attention, this skin colonizer has apparently not
evolved to cause disease, but maintain the commonly benign relationship with its
host.
Harm
 S. epidermidis can cause opportunistic infections, Today, S. epidermidis is a major
nosocomial pathogen posing significant medical and economic burdens.
 Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or cause relatively minor skin
infections. But staph infections can turn deadly if the bacteria invade deeper into your
body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart.