Researchers have identified a unique set of enzymes in a certain bacterium that breaks down sweat molecules into the compounds responsible for body odor.
Researchers assessed the ability of ability of over 150 bacterial isolates from underarm skin to produce the malodorants, the Society for General Microbiology reported. They then identified the genes encoding the proteins that produce the thioalcohol compounds responsible for the tell-tale scent. These genes were found in Staphylococcus hominis as well as two other Staphylococcus species.
In order to confirm these genes were crucial for body odor production, the researchers moved them into Escherichia coli bacteria, and found they were able to produce the same smell when grown in the same vicinity as human sweat molecules.
"This work has significantly advanced our understanding of the specific biochemical processes involved in body [odor] production. It was surprising that this particular body odour pathway is governed by only a small number of the many bacterial species residing in the underarm. We have opened up the possibility of inhibiting body [odor] formation using compounds designed to target the specific proteins controlling the release of malodorants," said Dan Bawdon from the University of York, who led the research.
Thioalcohols have long been known to play a role in body odor, but the research was scarce on how these compounds actually produce the pungent scent. The researchers were surprised by how few species of bacteria were responsible for body odor. These new findings could lead to new deodorant methods that target thioalcohol production without harming the resident bacteria.
"This was a really successful project funded through the BBSRC iCASE PhD scheme with microbiologist Gordon James in Unilever, where Dan's data are already having direct impact on the research being done in the company. The detailed molecular understanding of a process that is happening in our armpits every day and is completely dependent on bacteria is really exciting," said Gavin Thomas, the group leader in the Department of Biology at the University of York.
The findings were presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Annual Conference in Birmingham, England.
