Decoded BO: Scientists Identify Key Enzyme Behind Pungent Body Odor, and Could Lead to New Generation of Deodorants
- The BO enzyme is created by the bacteria Staphylococcus hominis that lives in the armpits
- The enzyme converts odorless sweat chemicals into spicy compounds.
- He believed the enzyme was inherited from ancient extinct human ancestors
Scientists have identified the chemical culprit behind body odor.
An enzyme made by bacteria residing in human armpits has been found to produce the pungent odor we know as BO.
Nicknamed the ‘BO enzyme’, it is made by a bacteria called Staphylococcus hominis that humans inherited from our now extinct ancient ancestors.
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An enzyme produced by bacteria residing in human armpits has been found to produce the pungent odor known as BO (stock)
Researchers from York University worked with Unilever and discovered that body odor has probably affected Homo sapiens since we first evolved.
We inherited it from our earliest predecessors and now smelly bacteria call our armpits home.
Unilever’s Dr. Gordon James says: ‘This research was a true revelation.
“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.”
By identifying the specific odorous compound, academics believe they can create deodorants that neutralize the enzyme, eradicating BO.
Dr Michelle Rudden of the York University Department of Biology said: ‘Solving the structure of this’ BO enzyme’ has allowed us to determine the molecular pathway within certain bacteria that produce odor molecules.
The ‘BO enzyme’ is made by a bacteria called Staphylococcus hominis that first existed in ancient human ancestors. We inherited it from our earliest predecessors and now stinky bacteria call our armpits home (stock)
“This is a key advance to understanding how body odor works and will allow the development of specific inhibitors that stop BO production at the source without disrupting the armpit microbiome.”
The enzymes produced by the bacteria adhere to odorless compounds produced by the body’s apocrine glands.
These are on the skin and produce sweat and open in the hair follicles. They are only found under the arm, around the nipple and external genitalia.
Humans also have eccrine glands that are found throughout the body and do not open in hair follicles.
While eccrine glands are known to be useful in thermoregulation, little is known about hairy apocrine glands except that they are smelly and hairy.
Scientists know that bacteria live there and this microbiota is essential for its functionality.
This latest study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, found that the enzyme cuts odorless precursor chemicals secreted by the glands.
This transforms harmless, odorless chemicals into thio alcohols, which the researchers describe as “the hottest volatiles” in sweat despite being only at trace levels.
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