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We have previously shown that precursors of odorous components characteristic of axillary sweat are hardly detectable or undetectable in individuals carrying the 538G > A SNP in the ABCC11 transporter gene. However, it is unclear, whether ABCC11 is directly involved in the transport of these compounds. To approach this question, transport of peptide-conjugated potential precursors of 3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexanol (3M3SH), a key determinant of axillary malodour, was measured using membrane vesicles of Sf9 insect cells overexpressing human ABCC11. Whilst no ABCC11-mediated transport was detected for the dipeptide precursor Cys-Gly-3M3SH, the glutathione conjugate of 3M3SH (SG-3M3SH) was robustly taken up by ABCC11 at a transport rate of 0.47 pmol/mg/min. Collectively, these results illuminate SG-3M3SH as a putative precursor of 3M3SH, which then may undergo intra-vesicular maturation to generate Cys-Gly-3M3SH. Critically, the apocrine sweat gland was demonstrated to express γ-glutamyl transferase 1 (GGT1) protein, which is known to catalyse the deglutamylation of glutathionyl conjugates. Additionally, we provide evidence that recombinant and isolated hepatic human GGT1 is capable of transforming SG-3M3SH to Cys-Gly-3M3SH in vitro. To sum up, we demonstrate that the functionality of ABCC11 is likely to play an important role in the generation of axillary malodour. Furthermore, we identify GGT1 as a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of Cys-Gly-3M3SH.

Emotional sweating and malodour production represent a relevant challenge to today's antiperspirant (AP) and deodorant products as stress in everyday life increases continuously. The aim of this study was to investigate stress-induced sweating in teenagers who are known to experience various stressful situations, e.g. exams at school or job interviews. To induce emotional sweating in 20 female and 20 male adolescents (16-18 years of age), we applied the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), considered today to be the most reliable and standardized stress protocol. In this study, we demonstrate that the TSST induces high amounts of sweat and strong axillary malodour in the tested age group. Notably, male teenagers showed significantly higher stress-induced odour scores than female subjects, although no gender differences were detected concerning other physiological stress markers. Testing of a novel deodorant/AP product developed to specifically address the needs of adolescent consumers revealed excellent deodorant and AP efficacy under the challenging conditions of the TSST.

Synopsis The axilla, especially its microflora and axillary sweat glands as well as their secretions, is the main target of cosmetic compositions such as deodorants or antiperspirants. There are three types of sweat glands present in the axillary skin, namely apocrine, eccrine and apoeccrine sweat glands. Here, we provide an overview of the morphological, structural and functional characteristics of the different gland types and present techniques that allow their clear distinction. Moreover, we describe different forms of perspiration as physical reactions to external and internal stimuli. Resume Les glandes sudoripares axillaires et leurs secretions sont les points d'application principaux des produits antitranspirants et deodorants. Dans la peau axillaire, il y a trois formes differentes de glandes sudoripares appelees apocrines, eccrines et apoeccrines. Nous donnons une vue d'ensemble des proprietes fonctionnelles, morphologiques et structurelles des differentes glandes et presentons des techniques qui permettent leur distinction. Nous decrivons egalement les differents modes de transpiration corporelle entant que reactions physiques aux stimuli externes et internes.

Poliovirus type 2 (PV-2) Lansing strain produces a fatal paralytic disease in mice after intracerebral injection, whereas poliovirus type 1 (PV-1) Mahoney strain causes disease only in primates. Atomic models derived from the three-dimensional crystal structure of the PV-1 Mahoney strain have been used to locate three antigenic sites on the surface of the virion. We report here the construction of type 1-type 2 chimaeric polioviruses in which antigenic site 1 from the PV-1 Mahoney strain was substituted by that of the PV-2 Lansing strain by nucleotide cassette exchange in a cloned PV-1 cDNA molecule. These chimaeras proved to have mosaic capsids with composite type 1 and type 2 antigenicity, and induced a neutralizing response against both PV-1 and PV-2 when injected into rabbits. Moreover, a six-amino-acid change in PV-1 antigenic site 1 was shown to be responsible for a remarkable host-range mutation in so far as one of the two type 1-type 2 chimaera was highly neurovirulent for mice.