We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Human scent as a first-line defense against disease.
- Authors
Gordon, Amy R.; Lundström, Johan N.; Kimball, Bruce A.; Karshikoff, Bianka; Sorjonen, Kimmo; Axelsson, John; Lekander, Mats; Olsson, Mats J.
- Abstract
Individuals may have a different body odor, when they are sick compared to healthy. In the non-human animal literature, olfactory cues have been shown to predict avoidance of sick individuals. We tested whether the mere experimental activation of the innate immune system in healthy human individuals can make an individuals' body odor be perceived as more aversive (intense, unpleasant, and disgusting). Following an endotoxin injection (lipopolysaccharide; 0.6 ng/kg) that creates a transient systemic inflammation, individuals smelled more unpleasant compared to a placebo group (saline injection). Behavioral and chemical analyses of the body odor samples suggest that the volatile components of samples from "sick" individuals changed qualitatively rather than quantitatively. Our findings support the hypothesis that odor cues of inflammation in axillary sweat are detectable just a few hours after experimental activation of the innate immune system. As such, they may trigger behavioral avoidance, hence constituting a first line of defense against pathogens of infected conspecifics.
- Subjects
BODY odor; ODORS; SALINE injections; BEHAVIORAL assessment; ANALYTICAL chemistry; ENDOTOXINS
- Publication
Scientific Reports, 2023, Vol 13, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2045-2322
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41598-023-43145-3