Can a Poor Immune System Cause Body Odor?
Genetics The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) consists of a particular bunch of genes that help in coding the immune system, usually found in vertebrates. While these MHC molecules are key in determining the body’s immunity to viruses, they also play an important role in developing a person’s scent, or body odor. These are the genotype and phenotype of MHC, immunity portrayed inside the body and odor portrayed outside the body. When the immune system is at work fighting bacteria and viruses, you not only smell the odor caused from the chemical reaction between the two, but the bacteria itself will also give off an odor, which is sometimes stronger than the immune system. Connection Because of the genetic link between the human immune system and bodily odors, you can see a correlation between how strong the immunity is and how strong the body odors are. This is most noticeable in the repugnant odor of the deceased, which occurs from the breakdown in the immune system. The same sor