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Human scent as a fi...
Human scent as a first-line defense against disease
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Gordon, Amy R. (author)
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- Lundström, Johan N. (author)
- Stockholms universitet,SUBIC – Centrum för hjärnavbildning vid Stockholms universitet,Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Monell Chemical Senses Center, USA; Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden
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Kimball, Bruce A. (author)
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- Karshikoff, Bianka (author)
- Karolinska Institutet
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- Sorjonen, Kimmo (author)
- Karolinska Institutet
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- Axelsson, John (author)
- Karolinska Institutet,Stockholms universitet,Stressforskningsinstitutet,Biologisk psykologi,Karolinska institutet, Sweden
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- Lekander, Mats, 1959- (author)
- Stockholms universitet,Stressforskningsinstitutet,Biologisk psykologi,Karolinnska institutet, Sweden
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- Olsson, Mats J. (author)
- Karolinska Institutet
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(creator_code:org_t)
- Springer Nature, 2023
- 2023
- English.
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Nature. - 2045-2322. ; 13:1
- Related links:
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https://doi.org/10.1...
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https://urn.kb.se/re...
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https://doi.org/10.1...
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Abstract
Subject headings
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- 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.
Subject headings
- MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)
- MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)
Keyword
- human scent
- first-line defense
- disease
- olfactory cues
- psykologi
- Psychology
Publication and Content Type
- ref (subject category)
- art (subject category)
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