Targeted lysis of Staphylococcus hominis linked to axillary osmidrosis using bacteriophage-derived endolysin

Axillary apocrine gland secretions, rich in lipids and proteins, are initially odorless, but undergo a transformation into malodorous substances through bacterial metabolism. Primary axillary odorants include medium-chain volatile fatty acids, namely 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid (3M2H) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid (HMHA), as well as a thioalcohol, 3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3M3SH) ( Hasegawa et al., 2004 Hasegawa Y. Yabuki M. Matsukane M. Identification of new odoriferous compounds in human axillary sweat. Chem Biodivers. 2004; 1: 2042-2050 Crossref PubMed Scopus (84) Google Scholar , Natsch et al., 2003 Natsch A. Gfeller H. Gygax P. Schmid J. Acuna G. A specific bacterial aminoacylase cleaves odorant precursors secreted in the human axilla. J Biol Chem. 2003; 278: 5718-5727 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar , Troccaz et al., 2004 Troccaz M. Starkenmann C. Niclass Y. van de Waal M. Clark A.J. 3-Methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol as a major descriptor for the human axilla-sweat odour profile. Chem Biodivers. 2004; 1: 1022-1035 Crossref Scopus (91) Google Scholar , Zeng et al., 1991 Zeng X.N. Leyden J.J. Lawley H.J. Sawano K. Nohara I. Preti G. Analysis of characteristic odors from human male axillae. J Chem Ecol. 1991; 17: 1469-1492 Crossref PubMed Scopus (231) Google Scholar ).