Characterization of UCO-SMC3 as a Potential Probiotic for the Skin: Its Beneficial Role in the Pathogenesis of Acne Vulgaris.

Previously, we isolated lactic acid bacteria from the slime of the garden snail Müller and selected UCO-SMC3 because of its ability to inhibit in vitro the growth of the skin-associated pathogen . The present study aimed to characterize the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of UCO-SMC3 and to demonstrate its beneficial effect in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Our in vitro studies showed that the UCO-SMC3 strain resists adverse gastrointestinal conditions, inhibits the growth of clinical isolates of , and reduces the adhesion of the pathogen to keratinocytes.