title: In-vitro and in-vivo studies of human axillary odour and the cutaneous microflora.
abstract: The axillary microflora of 34 male subjects were studied in relation to their underarm odour intensity. The predominant groups of micro-organisms were aerobic coryneforms, Micrococcaceae and propionibacteria. There was no competition for habitat between these groups (Fisher's exact test P greater than 0.05). There was an association between the population density of aerobic coryneforms and the intensity of odour (Spearman, P = 0.001). Dominance of aerobic coryneforms within the axillary microflora was associated with high odour intensity (chi 2, P = 0.005). An in-vitro odour model was developed using a diethyl ether extract of axillary skin incubated with test bacteria. Underarm odour was produced exclusively by aerobic coryneform bacteria. Of aerobic coryneforms, 71.4% were odour producers and these were identified as Corynebacterium xerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Leeds, U.K.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rennie
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Gower
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003352:Corynebacterium; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*