Working up a sweat: key enzyme responsible for body odor identified

Scientists have discovered that an enzyme produced by commensal bacteria located in the armpit is responsible for body odor (BO). Standing in someone’s smelly armpit during your morning commute is always an unpleasant experience, new research suggests that BO is not a modern problem and may have existed prior to the evolution of Homo sapiens. Previously, researchers from the University of York (UK) demonstrated that a small sub-section of bacteria present in the armpit cause BO. Now, in collaboration with Unilever R&D (Bedford, UK), they have identified a unique enzyme responsible for the production of BO molecules. Utilizing a combination...