Human body odours: exploring chemical signatures
The Emerging Fields Initiative (EFI) has been launched by FAU in 2010 and aims to promote outstanding interdisciplinary research projects at an early stage. By providing funding in a flexible and non-bureaucratic way, EFI allows researchers at FAU to carry out innovative research by exploring new fields of research, having the possibility to quickly adapt to unforeseen insights or circumstances. In 2018, seven new projects have been selected for funding, amongst which the EFI project Human body odours: exploring chemical signatures.
Research
The goal of this EFI project is to generate a chemocommunication technology and knowledge platform at FAU, providing adequate sampling procedures, and chemo-analytical, microbiological, and data-analytical know-how to study body odour signatures and their interplay with individual demographic and genetic factors. The consortium will, in a first step, establish scientific cross-talk at the interface between the different disciplines, and adapt existing or implement new methods and technologies for the analysis of body odour signatures. In a second step, the consortium will tackle the issue of understanding the variability and complexity of volatiles emanating from different body sites and the information encoded therein. With this scientific and technological toolbox and knowledge at hand, the consortium will address specific research questions, e.g. related to disease-, nutrition-, or emotion-dependent chemical signatures, and contribute to the development of new products and technologies, e.g., in medicine, body care, or the textile and clothing industry.
It is the vision of the consortium that the project will promote future discoveries in the emerging field of chemocommunication, as well as in adjacent fields such as personalized medicine, affective sensing, or chemometrics. The project relates to FAU Key Research Priorities such as Medicine, Life Sciences and Health , Medical Engineering, and Electronics, Analytics and Digital Transformation .
Team and Competences
Analytical and Odor Chemistry
Dr. Helene Loos, Chair of Aroma and Smell Research
Expertise in: odour analysis, sensory evaluation, psychophysiology, ethology
Tobias Härtl, M. Sc., Chair of Aroma and Smell Research
Expertise in: odour analysis, sensory evaluation, organic synthesis
Diana Owsienko, state certified food chemist, Chair of Aroma and Smell Research
Expertise in: sensory and instrument-based analytics, food law and food chemistry
Tanja Hammerbacher, Chair of Aroma and Smell Research
Expertise in: sensory and chemical techniques and methods
Nutrition and Aging
Dr. Eva Kiesswetter, Institute for Biomedicine of Aging
Expertise in: nutrition, older age
Neuroscience, Psychology and Stress Research
Prof. Nicolas Rohleder, Chair of Health Psychology
Expertise in: acute and chronic stress effects on health, stress system regulation of inflammation, development and evaluation of non- and minimally invasive stress biomarkers.
Prof. Jessica Freiherr, Professorship of Neuroscience of Sensory Perception
Expertise in: neuroscience of olfaction, multisensory integration
Dipl.-Biol. Petra Schatz, Chair of Health Psychology
Expertise in: assessment of stress biomarkers
Microbiology
Dr. Stefan Wirtz, University Hospital Erlangen, Gastroenterology
Expertise in: molecular and cellular immunology, microbiome analysis, innate immunity
Prof. Roland Lang, University Hospital Erlangen, Microbiology
Expertise in: innate immunity, clinical microbiology
Machine Learning and Data Analytics
Prof. Björn Eskofier, Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab
Expertise in: machine learning, data analytics, wearable computing, HCI
Leo Schwinn, M. Sc., Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab
Expertise in: machine learning, deep learning, computer vision
Former Team Members
Judith Schick, M. Sc., University Hospital Erlangen, Microbiology
Expertise in: innate immunity, microbiology, MALDITOF analysis
Jingyan Li, University Hospital Erlangen, Gastroenterology
Expertise in: medical and molecular biological techniques and methods
Cooperation
The consortium is open for collaborative projects both within and outside FAU, as well as within and outside academia.
You may contact us if you are interested in:
- understanding the chemistry of body odours
- investigating the interaction of body odour compounds with perfumes and cosmetics, or textiles
- understanding the perception of body odours
- understanding the function of body odours, e.g., in social interaction
- investigating body odours in relation to nutrition, health and disease
- developing sensor systems in relation to body odours
- understanding the impact of microbial colonization on body odours
- compositional and functional analysis of the human microbiome
- other emerging topics related to or complementing the expertise of our consortium.
Talks and Symposia
Loos, H.M. (2021) Body odors: methods to elucidate their chemical composition and determine diet-related influences. 15th International Conference on Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, online colloquium.
Loos, H.M. (2021) You are what you eat – the influence of food intake on body odours. 2nd Interdisciplinary Erlangen Colloquium on Body Odours, online colloquium.
Loos, H.M., Freiherr, J., Rohleder, N., Eskofier, B., Lang, R., Wirtz, S., Kiesswetter, E. (2021) 2nd Interdisciplinary Erlangen Colloquium on Body Odours, online colloquium, 28th and 29th April.
Buettner, A., Loos, H. M., Schober, R. (2020) Molecular Communication – from odour plume to transmission of chemical information. ECRO Satellite Symposium, online conference, 16th September.
Loos, H.M., Freiherr, J., Kiesswetter, E., Rohleder, N., Wirtz, S., Lang, R., Eskofier, B. (2020) Interdisciplinary Erlangen Colloquium on Body Odours. Chemical signatures: from basic insights to applications. Online conference, 6th and 7th May.
Loos, H.M. (2020) Human chemocommunication. Sensory Science Lecture Series, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany, 13th February.
Rohleder, N. (2020) Stress and Health. Sensory Science Lecture Series, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany, 13th February.
Loos, H.M., Owsienko, D., Haertl, T. (2019) Human body odors: exploring chemical signatures. Colloquium “Aktuelle wissenschaftliche Aspekte der Geriatrie”, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany, 9th December.
Loos, H.M., Scheffler, L., Sharapa, C., Denzer-Lippmann, M., Kirsch, F., Sandgruber, S., Spitzer, J., Beauchamp, J., Buettner, A. (2019) Odorants in human milk: their origin and behavioural significance. 12th Wartburg Symposium on Flavor Chemistry and Biology, Wartburg, Germany, 24th May.
Publications
Publications within the EFI Project
Publications are still in progress.
Publications beyond the EFI Project
Debong, M. W., N’Diaye, K., Owsienko, D., Schöberl, D., Ammar, T., Lang, R., Buettner, A., Hofmann, T., Loos, H. M. (2021) Dietary linalool is transferred into the milk of nursing mothers. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 2100507. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202100507
N´Diaye, K., Debong, M., Behr, J., Dirndorfer, S., Duggan, T., Beusch, A., Schlagbauer, V., Dawid, C., Loos, H. M., Buettner, A., Lang, R., Hofmann, T. (2021) Dietary piperine is transferred into the milk of nursing mothers. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 2100508. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202100508
Qin, W., Huber, K., Popp, M., Bauer, P., Buettner, A., Sharapa, C., Scheffler, L., Loos, H.M. (2020) Quantification of allyl methyl sulfide, allyl methyl sulfoxide, and allyl methyl sulfone in human milk and urine after ingestion of cooked and roasted garlic. Frontiers in Nutrition 7: 565496. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.565496.
Debong, M. W., Loos, H.M. (2020) Diet-induced flavor changes in human milk: update and perspectives. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemisty. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c00223.
Schaal B., Saxton T.K., Loos H.M., Soussignan R., Durand K. (2020) Olfaction scaffolds the developing human from neonate to adolescent and beyond. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 375: 20190261. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0261
Loos, H.M., Reger, D., Schaal, B. (2019) The odour of human milk: Its chemical variability and detection by newborns. Physiology & Behaviour, 199: 88-99, doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.11.008
Loos, H.M., Doucet, S., Védrines, F., Sharapa, C., Soussignan, R., Durand, K., Sagot, P., Buettner, A., Schaal, B. (2017). Responses of human neonates to highly diluted odorants from sweat. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 43 (1), 106-117. doi: 10.1007/s10886-016-0804-x
Loos, H. M., Doucet, S., Soussignan, R., Hartmann, C., Durand, K., Dittrich, R., Sagot, P., Buettner, A., Schaal, B. (2014). Responsiveness of human neonates to the odor of 5α-androst-16-en-3-one: a behavioral paradox? Chemical Senses, 39 (8), 693-703. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bju041
Public scientific talks
Loos, H.M. (2019) “Es liegt was in der Luft – Gerüche als Informationsträger”, Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany, 19th October.
Loos, H.M. (2019) „Düfte dieser Welt – Einblicke in die Geruchsforschung“, accompanying talk to the exhibition „Hyperdrüse“ by Anna Virnich, Schering Stiftung, Berlin Science Week, Berlin, Germany, 6th November.
Events
Colloquium 2020
The Interdisciplinary Erlangen Colloquium on Body Odours with the overarching theme of Chemical signatures: from basic insights to applications was planned to take place at FAU on 6th and 7th May 2020. Because of the restrictions with the aim of preventing and reducing COVID-19 cases during that time, the colloquium did not take place in its original form. It was replaced by an online conference, with over 70 participants from 11 countries.
Programme
Chemical and biological principles of body odor formation and perception, Wednesday 6th May, 11 am to 12:45 pm:
Günter Leugering, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
Welcoming speech
Helene Loos, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, and Fraunhofer IVV, Freising, Germany
Introduction
Christian Starkenmann, Starkenmann Family Consulting, Geneva, Switzerland
Biochemistry and analysis of axillary odor
Matthias Brandenburger, Fraunhofer EMB, Lübeck, Germany
Applied research on sweat glands – from wound healing to test system development
Alex Veithen, ChemCom S.A., Brussels, Belgium
Identification of olfactory receptor antagonists: the case study of OR7D4
Sensing and elucidating body odors: techniques and applications, Wednesday 6th May, 2 pm to 3 pm:
Jonathan Beauchamp, Fraunhofer IVV, Freising, Germany
Exploring the human volatilome via exhaled breath analysis
Veronika Ruzsanyi, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Sensor system for detection of human volatile compounds against transnational crime
Body odors and their role in chemical communication, part I, Thursday 7th May, 11 am to 12:15 pm:
Jessica Freiherr, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, and Fraunhofer IVV, Freising, Germany
Introduction
Anja Widdig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, and MPI EVA, Leipzig, Germany
Olfactory cues of fertility in primates
Jasper de Groot, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Quantifying the smell of fear
Body odors and their role in chemical communication, part II, Thursday 7th May, 2 pm to 3 pm:
Barbara Caspers, Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
Friend or foe: The importance of chemicals in friendships
Mats Olsson, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
The smell of disease
Organising Committee
Helene Loos, Jessica Freiherr, and the EFI team.
Colloquium 2021
The Interdisciplinary Erlangen Colloquium on Body Odours with the overarching theme of Chemical signatures: from basic insights to applications has taken place online on 28th and 29th April 2021.
Programme
The Interdisciplinary Erlangen Colloquium on Body Odours aims to foster scientific exchange between researchers from different disciplines, who work on chemical communication in humans and on other topics related to human body odours.
We are grateful to all scientists having accepted our invitation to contribute to this colloquium – Perdita Barran, Vincent Cuzuel, Guillaume Cognon, Camille Ferdenzi, Rickard Ignell, Gün Semin, Niels Verhulst – and to all young and senior scientists having submitted their abstracts to contribute to the colloquium. We very much enjoyed the following scientific programme:
Body odors of the beloved ones – Wednesday 28th April, 9 am to 10:30 am:
Helene Loos, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, and Fraunhofer IVV, Freising, Germany
Introduction
Laura Schäfer, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Children´s body odors as chemosignals in the mother-child relationship: Integration of genetic, developmental and neurobiological factors
Arnaud Leleu, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
Learning to see faces with body odors
Lucie Kuncová, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Perceived father-partner body odor similarity in women and its influence on relationship and sexual satisfaction
Radka Bušovská, Charles University, Prague, and Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Women tend to select partners having body odor similar to that of their fathers
Body odors: from ancient times to current research – Wednesday 28th April, 11 am to 12:15 pm:
Keewai Wong & Esther-Maria Guggenmos, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Odours as body language in Imperial China
Ilja Croijmans, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
The role of fragrance and self-esteem on perception of body odors
Diane Rekow, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
Smell what you hardly see: when odors assist the visual cortex
Body odors and their role in the communication of emotional states – Wednesday 28th April, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm:
Jasper de Groot, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Identifying the smell of fear: Combining psychological experiments, chemical analysis, and genetics
Marta Rocha, University Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal, and Williams James Center for Research, Lisbon, Portugal
Access to visual awareness is influenced by facial expression but not by self chemosignals
Analysis of body odors and its applications – Thursday 29th April, 9 am to 10:30 am:
Perdita Barran, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Developing a diagnostic test for Parkinson’s Disease from sebum – led by the nose
Vincent Cuzuel & Guillaume Cognon, Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, Cergy-Pontoise, France
A forensic point of view of the human odor: from dogs to laboratory
Nijing Wang, Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie, Mainz, Germany
Total OH reactivity of emissions from humans
Sensing of body odors by mosquitoes – Thursday 29th April, 11 am to 12 pm:
Niels Verhulst, University of Zurich, Switzerland
A man in a bottle: Mimicking human (and animal) odor to collect mosquitoes
Rickard Ignell, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
Perception of human and non-human animal odors by mosquitoes
From molecules to perception – Thursday 29th April, 2 pm to 3 pm:
Camille Ferdenzi, Centre de Recherches en Neurosciences de Lyon, Lyon, France
Perception, processing and behavioral effects of sexually dimorphic body odor compounds
Helene Loos, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, and Fraunhofer IVV, Freising, Germany
You are what you eat – the influence of food intake on body odors
Organising Committee
Helene Loos, Jessica Freiherr, and the EFI team.