- Setting the Stage for a Successful Launch Into the Microbiome Space
- The Skin Microbiome in Relation to the Clothing Microbiome
- Microbiome host interaction: Influence of FLG Loss-Of-Function Mutations in Host-Microbe Interactions During Atopic Skin Inflammation
- Developing Beneficial Bacteria as Topical Therapeutics to Treat Skin Diseases
- How Phage Capsids Can Be Engineered for Gene Therapy of the Microbiome
- Restoring Healthy Skin Ecology with Microbial Ensembles
- Biofilm Production & Inflammatory Skin Molecules Support the Growth & Persistence of Cutibacterium acnes in Acne Vulgaris
The Skin Microbiome in Relation to the Clothing Microbiome
At the beginning of the second day of the fourth Microbiome movement, Dr. Chris Callewaert (known on the web as Dr. Armpit) spoke about the relationship between clothing and the microbiota.
The research on the bad smell of clothing mainly concerns hiking and sports, but permastink (this is the name for the bad smell that remains in clothes) can be a socially very significant problem for some. Many studies have tried to identify the substances responsible for the bad odor and the microorganisms that are involved but few have focused on the microbiome that remains on clothing.
The conclusions he came to with his studies are that:
- The microbiome of the clothes, when freshly worn, is very similar to that of the chest or back of the subject, much less to that of other areas of the skin and has a much greater bacterial diversity than the microbiota of the armpits.
- After wearing them, the clothes left lying around are enriched with bacteria, in a different and selective way for each type of fabric. Polyester, for example, smells much more than cotton and this can be linked to the increased proliferation of Micrococcus spp. on synthetic fabrics. Unlike other bacteria, C.acnes is enriched on nylon. Nothing grows on viscose. Wool definitely permits more bacterial growth, but with considerable diversity, which probably prevents the overgrowth of foul-smelling bacteria, furthermore the wool remains drier which prevents further proliferation upon incubation as moisturehas a big influence on bacterial growth.
- In the last century, the way clothes are washed has changed radically. We have gone from washing at high temperatures and very aggressive chemical detergents (bleach) to washing at low temperatures with enzymes-based detergents. This has undoubtedly had a positive impact on the environment but what effect on the microbiota? The main effect is that washing clothes no longer removes microbes and instead causes microbial exchange between clothes washed together. Slow drying also favors the accumulation of odorous bacteria.
- Clothes treated with antimicrobials can cause surprising effects on the skin microbiome. For example, clothes treated with NanoSilver induce a greater growth of bacteria on the skin! One possible explanation is that bacteria produce a biofilm to protect themselves from silver. In addition, resistant bacteria could be selected. Finally, the antimicrobials used could have unhealthy effects for the health of the host and for the environment.
- Probiotic clothes can be an alternative solution. Clothes can be coated with microencapsulated non-odour associated probiotic bacteria, which could prevent the growth of smelly ones. This could also reduce the need for washing clothes.
To learn more: https://drarmpit.com/
