MICROORGANISMS INHIBITING THE FORMATION OF FOOT MALODOR
Described are microorganisms which are able to inhibit the formation of foot malodor by skin microorganisms. Also described are compositions comprising such microorganisms as well as the use of such microorganisms in cosmetic, prophylactic or therapeutic applications.
1 - 21 . (canceled)
22 . A microorganism which is able to prevent the generation of foot malodor by skin microorganisms.
23 . The microorganism of claim 22 which is able to prevent the generation of foot malodor by skin microorganisms in a sniffing assay.
24 . The microorganism of claim 22 which is able to suppress the biosynthesis of isovaleric acid by skin microorganisms.
25 . The microorganism of claim 24 , which is able to suppress the biosynthesis of isovaleric acid by skin microorganisms in an assay comprising the following steps:
(i) mixing said microorganism with a microorganism which is capable of generating isovaleric acid and with a precursor of isovaleric acid;
(ii) incubating the mixture under conditions allowing the generation of isovaleric acid;
(iii) extracting short fatty acids from the supernatant of the mixture; and
(iv) detecting the generation of foot malodor by the occurrence of isovaleric acid.
26 . The microorganism of claim 24 , wherein isovaleric acid is generated by a bacterium of the genus Micrococcus or Propionibacterium.
27 . The microorganism of claim 26 , wherein the Propionibacterium is Propionibacterium freudenreichii.
28 . The microorganism of claim 22 , which is able to inhibit the growth of foot malodor generating skin microorganisms.
29 . The microorganism of claim 28 , which is able to inhibit the growth of foot malodor generating skin microorganisms in an inhibition assay.
30 . The microorganism of claim 22 , which belongs to a genus selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus and Leuconostoc.
31 . The microorganism of claim 30 , which is selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus delbrückii delbrückii , and Leuconostoc mesenteroides.
32 . The microorganism of claim 31 , which is selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus brevis LB-FG-0001 (DSM 17599), Lactobacillus plantarum LB-FG-0002 (DSM 17600), Lactobacillus curvatus LB-FG-0003 (DSM 17601), Leuconostoc mesenteroides LB-FG-0004 (DSM 17602), Lactobacillus plantarum LB-FG-0005 (DSM 17603), Lactobacillus delbrückii delbrückii LB-FG-0006 (DSM 17604), Lactobacillus delbrückii delbrückii LB-FG-0007 (DSM 17605), Lactobacillus plantarum LB-FG-0008 (DSM 17606) and Lactobacillus brevis , LB-FG-0009 (DSM 17607).
33 . The microorganism of claim 31 , which is a mutant of the selected microorganism that retains the ability to prevent the generation of foot malodor by skin microorganisms
34 . An inactive form of the microorganism of claim 31 , which is able to prevent the generation of foot malodor by skin microorganisms.
35 . An inactive form of the microorganism of claim 32 , which is able to prevent the generation of foot malodor by skin microorganisms.
36 . The inactive form of claim 34 , which is thermally inactivated or lyophilized.
37 . A composition comprising the microorganism of claim 22 .
38 . A cosmetic composition, which comprises the composition of claim 37 and a cosmetically acceptable carrier or excipient.
39 . A pharmaceutical composition, which comprises the composition of claim 37 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
40 . A method for the production of a cosmetic composition comprising the step of formulating the microorganism of claim 22 with a cosmetically acceptable carrier or excipient.
41 . A method for the production of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the step of formulating the microorganism of claim 22 with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.