Scientists identify key enzyme behind body odor

Scientists have discovered a unique enzyme responsible for the characteristic pungent odor that we call body odor, or BO.

Researchers from York University have previously shown that only a few bacteria in your armpit are the true culprits for BO. Now, the same team, in collaboration with Unilever scientists, has gone one step further to discover a unique “BO enzyme” that is only found within these bacteria and is responsible for the characteristic underarm odor.

This new research highlights how particular bacteria have developed a specialized enzyme to produce some of the key molecules that we recognize as BO.

The first author, Dr. Michelle Rudden, from Prof. Gavin Thomas’s group in the Department of Biology at York University, said: “Solving the structure of this” BO enzyme “has allowed us to determine the molecular pathway within certain bacteria that produce odor molecules. This is a key advance in understanding how body odor works, and will allow the development of specific inhibitors that stop the production of BO at the source without disrupting the armpit microbiome. “

Your armpit harbors a diverse community of bacteria that is part of your natural skin microbiome. This research highlights Staphylococcus hominis as one of the main microbes behind body odor.

Furthermore, the researchers say that this “BO enzyme” was present in S. hominis long before Homo sapiens appeared as a species, suggesting that body odor existed before the evolution of modern humans, and may have had a important role in society. communication between ancestral primates.

This research represents an important discovery for Unilever R&D, made possible by its long academic collaboration in the industry with York University. Unilever co-author Dr. Gordon James said: “This research was a true revelation. It was fascinating to discover that there is a key enzyme that forms odors in just a few armpit bacteria, and it evolved there tens of millions of years ago. . “.

“The molecular basis of thioalcohol production in the smell of the human body” is published in the magazine Scientific reports.