Team:Paris Bettencourt
From 2014.igem.org
Body odor is caused by the metabolic action of bacteria on human sweat. Existing deodorants are antibiotic - they kill all skin bacteria including neutral and beneficial species. Where body odor carries a social stigma, alternatives to deodorant are few.
The iGEM Paris Bettencourt 2014 project explores new ways to control body odors through precise modifications of the living microbiome. We target common odors of the armpit and foot, as well as odors specific to old age or genetic disease. We present a BioBrick smell library for mixing genetic perfumes and a CRISPR-mediated technology for isolating naturally odorless bacterial strains.
Our work represents a probiotic and body-positive approach to body odor that will someday help people to smell just like themselves.