Heide-Marie Höhne

rRNA-based profiling of bacteria in the axilla of healthy males suggests right–left asymmetry in bacterial activity

The activity of the human armpit microbiota triggers the formation of body odor. We used differential 16S rRNA gene (rDNA)- and rRNA-based terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting in combination with cloning and sequencing to identify active members of the human armpit microbiota. DNA and RNA were isolated from skin scrub samples taken from both armpits of 10 preconditioned, healthy males. The fingerprint profiles indicated pronounced similarities between the armpit microbiota in the right and the left axillae of an individual test person, but larger differences between the axilla microbiota of different individuals. Using 16S rDNA and rRNA sequence data, the majority of peaks in the armpit profiles were assigned to bacteria affiliated with well-known genera of skin bacteria. The relative abundances of all groups were similar among the rDNA and rRNA samples, suggesting that all groups of armpit bacteria were active. Surprisingly, the relative abundance of sequences affiliated with Peptoniphilus sp. was by far and with statistical significance the highest in the rRNA samples of the right armpits. Thus, bacteria affiliated with Peptoniphilus sp. might have been particularly active in the right axillae of the test persons, possibly owing to the handedness of the test persons, which might cause different environmental conditions in the right axillae.

Identification of compounds inhibiting the C-S lyase activity of a cell extract from a Staphylococcus sp. isolated from human skin

The C‐S lyase activity of bacteria in the human armpit releases highly malodorous, volatile sulfur compounds from nonvolatile precursor molecules. Such compounds significantly contribute to human body odour. Hence, C‐S lyase represents an attractive target for anti‐body‐odour cosmetic products. Here, aiming at a final use in an ethanol‐based deodorant formulation, 267 compounds and compound mixtures were screened for their ability to inhibit the C‐S lyase activity of a Stapyhlococcus sp. crude extract. Staphylococcus sp. Isolate 128, closely related to Staphylococcus hominis, was chosen as the test bacterium, as it showed a reproducibly high specific C‐S lyase activity on three different culturing media. Using a photometric assay and benzylcysteine as substrate, six rather complex, plant‐derived compound mixtures and five well defined chemical compounds or compound mixtures were identified as inhibitors, leading to an inhibition of ≥70% at concentrations of ≤0·5% in the assay. The inhibition data have demonstrated that compounds with two vicinal hydroxyl groups or one hydroxyl and one keto group bound to an aryl residue are characteristic for the inhibition. The substances identified as C‐S lyase inhibitors have the potential to improve the performance of anti‐body‐odour cosmetic products, for example, ethanol‐based deodorants.