BO’s hateful origins have been revealed.
In a discovery that will undoubtedly benefit diehard people around the world, scientists in the UK have followed the scent of body odor to a “BO enzyme” that predates modern man.
The smelly study, conducted by York University in collaboration with hygiene giant Unilever, could lead to the development of more effective deodorants in the future, reports SciTechDaily.
“Solving the structure of this ‘BO enzyme’ has allowed us to identify the molecular pathway within certain bacteria that produce odor molecules,” said study co-author Dr. Michelle Rudden of York University.
Specifically, they have identified the DNA of the bacteria Staphylococcus hominis, the main microbe involved in the processing of sweat molecules that emit body odor. Previously, York University researchers had discovered that only a few bacteria in his armpit facilitate the stench, but they have never identified the specific culprit until now.
As a result, this microscopic funk farmer was present in our extinct, or should we say ex-stink-t, prehistoric predecessors, and could have played an important role in social communication among early primates.
“This research was a true revelation,” said Dr. Gordon James of Unilever, co-author. “It was fascinating to discover that a key odor-forming enzyme exists in only a few armpit bacteria, and it evolved there tens of millions of years ago.”
More importantly, the findings could help deodorant companies create accurate odor-eliminating products that attack smelly microbes without killing good bacteria, as is the case with traditional antiperspirants, reports CBS News. Think in terms of a sniper rifle rather than a daisy-cutter bomb.
Unfortunately, the study is likely to be considered preliminary until it has been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. It is scheduled to be presented Monday at the Society for General Microbiology annual meeting in Birmingham, England.
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