title: Lipolytic, proteolytic, and cholesterol-degrading bacteria from the human cerumen.
abstract: Cerumen, also known as ear wax, is a yellowish waxy substance secreted from specialized glands in the ear canal of mammals. Human cerumen is rich in protein (mainly keratin), lipids (long-chain fatty acids), alcohols, squalene, and cholesterol. To-date the role of cerumen is not totally clear but it is believed to have antimicrobial properties. Here we describe the isolation of multiple bacterial species from human cerumen (among them many Staphylococcus spp. and, interestingly, multiple Bacillus spp.) showing that many of these bacteria harbor biochemical traits enabling them to utilize different cerumen components for their growth. We also suggest the existence of microbial consortia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Environment, University of Haifa in Oranim, Haifa, Israel. gerchman@research.haifa.ac.il
authors.forename: Yoram
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gerchman
authors.forename: Rinat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patichov
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeltzer
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D058448:Biota; D002571:Cerumen / Q000382:microbiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008066:Lipolysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D059748:Proteolysis; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D011506:Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D002784:Cholesterol