Tests performed on the bacteria reveal that they can hydrolyze esculin, but not starch, that they produce acid in peptone-yeast-glucose medium and in peptone-yeast-mannose medium, that they are catalase, indole, and lipase negative and that they are bile sensitive. P. melaninogenica are very acidic as illustrated by their ability to liquefy gelatin and to clot milk. They will generate acetic, isobutyric and isovaleric acids. P. melaninogenica will not reduce urease or nitrogen, indicating that they may only receive nutrients from an organic donor. They are also one of a limited number of bacteria that can product collagenase, an exotoxin, which breaks the peptide bonds in collagen and allows pathogenesis of other bacteria. P. melaninogenica grows at an optimal temperature of 37°C, which is logical because that is also the average human body temperature. This bacteria is inhibited by the presence of iron; therefore, it thrives in areas of lower iron content, such as in cervicular fluid. It can, however, create hemolysin under iron-limiting conditions. From a research perspective, P. melaninogenica is useful for media testing and for quality control purposes, aside from research aiming to learn more about the bacteria itself.