COSMETIC COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTING AND/OR TREATING BODY ODOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of cosmetology, particularly in the field of personal hygiene and more particularly to the prevention and/or treatment of body odor. It relates to a cosmetic composition comprising bacteria of at least one strain of Micrococcus genus and their use for preventing and/or treating body odor.

BACKGROUND ART The skin is an ecosystem composed of 1.8 m ² of diverse habitats with multiple niches that support a wide range of microorganisms, each niche being characterized by an unique microbial community. The primary role of the skin is to serve as a physical barrier, protecting our bodies from potential assault by foreign organisms or toxic substances. The skin is also an interface with the outside environment and, as such, is colonized by a diverse collection of microorganisms. Thus, the skin is considered to support a complex microbial ecology, containing persistent resident bacteria, short- term resident bacteria and transient bacteria. Many of these microorganisms are harmless and in some cases they may even provide vital functions. However, skin microbial composition, which varies greatly among different human subjects, also strongly affects the production of human body odors. On the skin surface, distinctive odors emanate, in particular, from the underarm (axilla), where a large and permanent population of microorganisms thrives on secretions from the eccrine, apocrine and sebaceous glands.

It has been evident since the 1950s that malodor generation on various sites of the human body, in particular on axillary skin, is due to the biotransformation of odorless natural secretions into volatile odorous molecules, by members of the resident microbial communities. Indeed, the composition of skin microbiota differs greatly among human subjects, and several studies have suggested a strong link between particular body odors and skin microbial composition. Furthermore, skin inhabiting bacteria also have been cited often in currently recognized explanations for inter-individual variation in body odor. According to traditional culture-based microbiological studies, this resident microbiota consists mainly of Gram-positive bacteria of the genera Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium and Propionibacterium. While, metagenomic analysis has revealed that Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Micrococcus spp. are the most abundant organisms colonizing moist areas. Each of those bacterial species has its own enzymes, converting non-odorous sweat into volatile compounds. Aerobic Corynebacterium spp. (Actinobacteria phylum) or Micrococcus sp. are considered to be responsible for a strong axillary malodor, while Staphylococcus spp. (Firmicutes phylum) and other axillary species only reveal low levels of odor. Moreover, many compounds are known to be responsible of unpleasant odor and more particularly the 2-nonenal compounds which are known to be responsible of an unpleasant greasy and grassy odor (Haze S et al. 2001).

People are concerned about their personal hygiene and have low tolerance toward bad body odor. The use of underarm cosmetics aims to control sweating and malodor formation. These products are important for social confidence and improve the quality of life of many people worldwide. Deodorants and antiperspirants are used by over 90 % of US consumers, generating sales of over $1 billion per year. Those substances applied on the human skin to enhance the pleasantness of the skin odor and counteract the odor caused by bacterial breakdown of skin secretions in the axillae, feet and other areas of the body.

A stable skin microbiota is involved in host resistance against skin pathogens and with the increasing use of deodorants and products alike, the axillae would be little vulnerable to environmental microbiota. The stability of the skin microbiota has been attributed to factors such as physiological skin pH, relative skin humidity, skin lipid composition, desquamation of the stratum corneum and skin temperature.

However, topical anti-perspirants (APs), the first line of body odor improvement, can be irritating to the skin and can induce an elimination of part of the beneficial cutaneous flora. Also, sweat is necessary for thermoregulation control, enabling humans to live in different climate zones and sweat glands are distributed throughout the human body. Furthermore, some cosmetics may contain nutrients such as glycerine, amino acids and hydrolysed collagen which can induce a perturbation of the resident microbiota, or they may contain antimicrobials that increase the presence of resistant strains on skin.

Commensal microorganisms occupy a wide range of skin niches and protect against invasion by more pathogenic or harmful organisms. These microorganisms may also have a role in educating the billions of T cells that are found in the skin, priming them to respond to similarly marked pathogenic cousins. Disruptions in the balance on either side of the equation can result in skin disorders or infections. Hence there is a need for new cosmetic or compositions allowing prevention and/or a treatment of body malodors without prejudicial effects for the skin ecosystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the context of the present invention, the inventors surprisingly found that, contrary to many bacteria known to be responsible to bad smell, some bacteria, preferably strain of Micrococcus genus can be used in cosmetic composition allowing prevention and/or a treatment of body odors.

More preferably, the inventors surprisingly found that the strain of Micrococcus genus may metabolize 2-nonenal directly with a high activity, eliminating it from the sweat before it becomes volatile. Thus, it may be interesting to converting mal-odorous compounds into non odorous compounds.

Alternately, the strain of the present invention can be a cosmetic bacterium which may metabolize fatty acids present in the sweat through pathways that do not produce 2-nonenal, thus reducing their availability for 2-nonenal production. In a first aspect, the present invention thus relates to a cosmetic use of at least one strain of Micrococcus genus for preventing and/or treating body odor.

In a second aspect, the present invention thus relates to a cosmetic composition comprising bacteria of at least one strain of Micrococcus genus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIGURES Figure 1. Phylogenic tree

The protected strains are distinguished by phylogenetic comparison of the 16S rRNA sequence with all other Micrococcus sequences and more particularly with Jukes-Cantor genetic distances and grouped by UPGMA clustering. Thus, isolate Ml shows high sequence similarity to the described strain M. yunnanensis (1302/1303 bp).

Figure 2.

The metabolic phenotype of isolate Ml was determined using phenotypic microarrays (BIOLOG). Tetrazolium dye reduction assays show that isolate Ml has high metabolic activity with many common body odor molecule and odor precursors. Metabolic activity of Micrococcus sp. Isolate Ml with a variety of carbon sources implicated in body odor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definition

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "preventing" means totally eliminating or partially reducing the risk of manifestation of a given phenomenon, i.e., in the present invention, the manifestation of body malodor. "Partial reduction" implies that the risk remains but to a lesser degree than before the implementation of the invention.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "treating" means totally eliminating or partially reducing the manifestation of body malodor.

For the purpose of the present invention, the expression "body malodor" means an unpleasant body odor caused by short- and medium-chain aliphatic acids, branched-chain aliphatic acids, short-and medium-chain aliphatic aldehydes, branched-chain aliphatic aldehydes, steroid derivatives and thiol compounds. In a preferred version, "body malodor" refers specifically odors caused by the aliphatic aldehyde 2-nonenal.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "effective amount" means a sufficient and necessary amount of the compound under consideration for obtaining the expected effect. Such an amount may be determined by any method known to those skilled in the art, for example by means of preliminary experimental tests.

In the sense of the invention, a "bacterial preparation" refers to a preparation comprising bacteria of the present invention. The bacterial preparation according to the invention can be a solid or a liquid preparation. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the bacterial preparations herein are suspensions of the bacteria of the invention. Such bacterial preparations can comprise bacteria under living form, inactivated form, dead form or lysate.

In the sense of the invention, some "inactivated" bacteria are bacteria which is temporarily no longer capable of forming colonies in culture. In addition, a "living form" bacteria are bacteria which have a metabolic activity and which is capable of forming colonies in culture. Then, a "dead form" bacteria are bacteria which is no longer capable of forming colonies in culture nor displaying metabolic activity.

In the sense of the invention, a "lysate" is means an aqueous solution or suspension comprising the bacterial proteins produced by lysis of bacterial cells. Such a lysate may comprise macromolecules, like DNA, NA, proteins (e.g. enzymes), peptides, carbohydrates, lipids and/or micromolecules, like amino acids, sugars, lipid acids. Preferably, said aqueous medium is water, physiological saline, plant milk or a buffer solution.

A use according to the present invention may also comprise the use of a lysate of at least one Micrococcus genus, or a fraction thereof, in combination with at least an effective amount of an additional agent, which is intended for preventing and/or treating body odor, preferably intended for regulating and/or inhibiting sweating, for instance an antiperspirant active agent. According to precedent aspect, said additional active agent is intended for decreasing and/or correcting excessive sweat secretion. Said additional active agent can be used in the form of a formulation of deodorant type, especially a stick or an aerosol. The bacteria of the Micrococcus genus are aerobic gram-positive Actinobacteria. A genus generally contains several bacterial species which can in turn contain several subspecies, varieties and ultimately strains. The strain of the Micrococcus genus is, for example, selected from the group consisting of Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus yunnanensis, Micrococcus aloeverae, Micrococcus endophyticus, Micrococcus antarticus, Micrococcus lylae, Micrococcus terreus, Micrococcus cohnii, Micrococcus flavus, Micrococcus lactis.

The strain of the Micrococcus genus according to the invention is preferably a strain naturally existing at the surface of the skin of a human being.

For the purpose of the present invention, the term "strain of Micrococcus genus" means bacteria of the Micrococcus genus and/or derived products of the strain of Micrococcus genus. In the sense of the invention, a "derived products of the strain of Micrococcus genus" means all metabolites obtainable with bacteria of the Micrococcus genus.

By "bacteria of a strain of the Micrococcus genus" or "bacteria from a strain of the Micrococcus genus", it is herein meant bacteria obtained by culture of a strain belonging to the Micrococcus genus. By definition, a fermentation or culture medium is a support which enables the culture and therefore, as appropriate, the growth of cells, bacteria and yeasts. In principle, the cells find in this medium the components essential for them to multiply in large number rapidly, but also sometimes elements which will make it possible to favour the growth of a specific bacterial genus. Its composition must therefore meet the nutritive requirements of the microorganism under consideration and necessary for the proliferation thereof. More specifically, the composition of this culture medium: i) cover the needs in terms of mineral ions and growth factors, and provide the carbon and energy source; ii) have a pH close to the optimum pH; and iii) have an optimum ionic strength.

Micrococcus bacteria are initially known to be resident on the skin. Inventors of the present invention propose a new use for those bacteria as cosmetic agents in order to modulate the skin bacterial community.

Hence, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to the cosmetic use of at least one strain of Micrococcus genus for preventing and/or treating body malodor.

Indeed, inventors isolate new derived microbial isolates of Micrococcus genus which are able to control body odor and more particularly to suppress unpleasant odors without suppressing the bacterial community nor use of irritants chemicals or other agents involved in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

In the use according to the invention, at least one strain of Micrococcus genus comprises at least one molecule capable of degrading an aldehyde, more particularly the 2-nonenal. Thus, microbial isolates are able to controlling odor in older subjects (> 40 years old) comprising a molecule capable of degrading an aldehyde. In a most preferred form, the microbial isolates is specific for the selective removal of 2-nonenal from personal odor. The microbial isolates may metabolize 2-nonenal directly with a high activity, eliminating it from the sweat before it becomes volatile. Each strain was isolated from an individual with positively perceived body odor. Such strain produces an odor which is positively perceived and/or, while producing no odor, or less odor, they inhibit the growth of bad smelling bacteria.

2-nonenal is known to be involved in the production of body malodor. The strain of the present invention isolated by the inventors carries those genes but is not involved in body malodor. The inventors found that the strain of the present invention is distinct. In this way, the chemical activity may also be distinct and they may produce an odor profile which is different and positive because the strain metabolizes 2-nonenal directly with high activity.

Among the strains belonging to the Micrococcus genus, the most relevant strains isolated from individuals have been selected and sequenced. This strain has several advantages compared to standard strains of Micrococcus. As shown in example, they possess physiologic or metabolic characteristic which are of utmost importance regarding their use in cosmetic applications such as a high adherence to surface, a superior shelf stability and superior growth abilities.

The 16S gene of those superior strains have been characterized and sequenced. The sequence of the 16S rRNA gene and/or the corresponding transcript sequences can be determined by methods well known by the person skilled in the art. 16S rRNA is a component of the 30S small subunit of prokaryotic ribosomes. The encoding genes are referred to as 16S rDNA and are used in reconstructing phylogenies as they are highly conserved between different species of bacteria. Primers used for the amplification of such sequences before sequencing are well-known by the person skilled in the art. List of such primers can be found in Weisburg et al., 1991. In one non-limiting example, primers listed in table 1 can be used for nucleic acid analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene.

Table 1. Primers can be used for nucleic acid analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene. (M refers to A or C).

Superior strain is listed below:

Micrococcus sp. Isolate Ml has a 16S gene sequence SEQ ID n°3.

The 16s rRNA sequence of isolate Ml is most closely related to the described species Micrococcus yunnanensis, sharing 1302/1303 base pairs of sequence identity (Figure 1).

Strain name 16S gene Sequence Reference

Ml GGATTAGTGGCGAACGGGTGAGTAACACGTGAGTAACCTGCCCTTAACT SEQ ID n°3

CTGGGATAAGCCTGGGAAACTGGGTCTAATACCGGATAGGAGCGTCCAC

CG C ATG GTG G GTGTTG G AAAG ATTT ATCG G 1 1 1 1 GGATGGACTCGCGGC

CTATCAGCTTGTTGGTGAGGTAATGGCTCACCAAGGCGACGACGGGTAG

CCGGCCTGAGAGGGTGACCGGCCACACTGGGACTGAGACACGGCCCAG

ACTCCTACGGGAGGCAGCAGTGGGGAATATTGCACAATGGGCGAAAGC

CTGATGCAGCGACGCCGCGTGAGGGATGACGGCCTTCGGGTTGTAAACC

TCTTTCAGTAGGGAAGAAGCGAAAGTGACGGTACCTGCAGAAGAAGCAC CGGCTAACTACGTGCCAGCAGCCGCGGTAATACGTAGGGTGCGAGCGTT

ATCCGGAATTATTGGGCGTAAAGAGCTCGTAGGCGGTTTGTCGCGTCTG

TCGTGAAAGTCCGGGGCTTAACCCCGGATCTGCGGTGGGTACGGGCAGA

CTAG AGTG C AGTAG G G G AG ACTG G AATTCCTG GTGTAG CG GTG G A ATG

CGCAGATATCAGGAGGAACACCGATGGCGAAGGCAGGTCTCTGGGCTG

TAACTGACGCTGAGGAGCGAAAGCATGGGGAGCGAACAGGATTAGATA

CCCTG GTAGTCC ATGCCGT AAACGTTG G G C ACT AG GTGTG G G G ACC ATT

CCACGGTTTCCGCGCCGCAGCTAACGCATTAAGTGCCCCGCCTGGGGAG

TACGGCCGCAAGGCTAAAACTCAAAGGAATTGACGGGGGCCCGCACAA

GCGGCGGAGCATGCGGATTAATTCGATGCAACGCGAAGAACCTTACCAA

GGCTTGACATGTTCTCGATCGCCGTGGAGATACGGTTTCCCCTTTGGGGC

GGGTTCACAGGTGGTGCATGGTTGTCGTCAGCTCGTGTCGTGAGATGTT

GGGTTAAGTCCCGCAACGAGCGCAACCCTCGTTCCATGTTGCCAGCACGT

AATGGTGGGGACTCATGGGAGACTGCCGGGGTCAACTCGGAGGAAGGT

GAGGACGACGTCAAATCATCATGCCCCTTATGTCTTGGGCTTCACGCATG

CTAC A ATG G CCG GTAC A ATG G GTTG CG ATACTGTG AG GTG GAG CT AATC

CCAAAAAGCCGGTCTCAGTTCGGATTGGGGTCTGCAACTCGACCCCATG

AAGTCGGAGTCGCTAGTAATCGCAGATCAGCAACGCTGCGGTGAATACG

TTCCCGGGCCTTGTACACACCGCCCGTCAAGTC

Table 2. 16S gene sequence of Micrococcus sp. Isolate Ml.

In the use according to the invention, the sequence of 16S gene of such Micrococcus genus strains have a homology of more than 97 % with the sequences SEQ ID n°3. Preferably 16S gene of such strains have a homology of more than 98%, more preferably 99%, even more preferably 99.5% with the sequences SEQ ID n°3.

In a more preferred form, the present invention includes species sharing 99.5% sequence identity to isolate Ml, including species nammed M. yunnanensis, M. luteus, M. aloeverae, and M. endophyticus. In the use according to the invention, the strain of Micrococcus genus is Micrococcus sp. Isolate Ml for the cosmetic use of the invention is selected from the group consisting of Micrococcus yunnanensis, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus aloeverae and Micrococcus endophyticus. In the use according to the invention, the strain of Micrococcus genus for the cosmetic use of the invention possesses the characteristics of the strain deposited according to the Budapest Treaty at the Institut Pasteur (28 rue du Docteur oux, F-75024 Paris Cedex 15) on June 22, 2016 under the CNCM number 1-5110.

Those bacteria can be used per se or after a transformation step. Hence bacterial preparation of Micrococcus strains according to the invention can encompasses bacteria per se or within a fermentation medium. Furthermore, when use per se or within a fermentation medium, bacteria may be in living form, inactivated form, dead form, or in the form of a lysate of said bacteria. Hence, the bacteria of the Micrococcus strains according to the invention may be in living form, inactivated form, dead form, in the form of a lysate of said bacteria, or in a combination of said forms.

The bacteria of the Micrococcus genus used in the context of this invention are preferably in living form or inactivated form. Indeed, living form or inactivated form will be able to grow on the skin and thus will have a long lasting effect.

Freeze-drying inactivation may be performed using any method known in the field. Said strain of the Micrococcus genus inactivated by freeze-drying may be replaced in culture. Hence, advantageously, Micrococcus strain according to the invention is present in the composition or used in lyophilized form. The bacteria of the Micrococcus genus used in the context of this invention may also be used in dead form. For example, the Micrococcus strains may be rendered non-viable by heat treatment, sonification, microwave irradiation, gamma irradiation, ultraviolet irradiation, mechanical cell disruption, chemical cell disruption or combinations thereof. Compositions which do not contain viable bacteria are easier to store and to introduce into products. In the present invention, bacteria are described as dead form when no viable cells and/or colony forming units can be detected by classical plating methods.

Typically, the absence of viable cells can be shown as follows: no visible colony on agar plates or no increasing turbidity in liquid growth medium after inoculation and incubation under appropriate conditions (aerobic for at least 48h). In the bacterial preparation comprised within the composition of the present invention, at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, ideally at least 99.9% of the Micrococcus strains may be non-viable. The bacterial preparation may have a viable cell count of less than 1000 colony forming units (CFU) per ml, for example less than 200 CFU/ml, for further example less than 10 CFU/ml.

The bacterial preparation may be an extract of a fermentation medium of Micrococcus strains. For example the Micrococcus strains may have been at least partially removed from the fermentation medium. Preferably the fermentation medium before the at least partial removal of the Micrococcus strains contains between 10 ^s and 10 ¹¹ colony forming units (CFU) per ml of Micrococcus strains.

For example, bacterial preparation can be the complete culture medium in which the bacteria were grown until after the microbial growth phase having resulted in the use of the nutritive substrates initially present in the culture medium.

For the purposes of the present invention, the expression "complete culture medium" is intended to denote a medium resulting from the culturing process having been used for the growth of the microorganism. Said medium may or may not have undergone an additional manipulation aimed at separating and/or removing all or part of its non-aqueous constituents. Preferably, the culture medium can be plant milks such as Soy milk, Oat milk, Rice milk, Millet milk. Preferably the fermentation broth is suitable for consumption by humans or pets in case of inadvertent ingestion of the composition.

This complete culture medium can undergo a cell lysis in order to produce bacterial lysate. More particularly, the active agent under consideration according to the invention is formed from the lysate of microorganisms and from all or part, in terms of amount, of the culture medium having been used for the culture of said bacterium and in which its cell lysis was consecutively carried out.

From the viewpoint of the aforementioned, the active agent formed according to the invention from the lysate contains the cytoplasmic and cytosolic fractions, the cell wall fragments and the metabolites formed and/or released during the cell lysis of said microorganism, and all of the biological entities capable of being generated and released spontaneously by the bacterium during its fermentation process and therefore already present in the fermentation medium before the cell lysis of said bacterium.

In the use according to the invention, the at least one strain of Micrococcus genus is preferably applied topically. In the use according to the invention, the at least one strain of Micrococcus genus can be used on most of the moist sites including the umbilicus (navel), the axillary vault, the inguinal crease (side of the groin), the gluteal crease (topmost part of the fold between the buttocks), the sole of the foot, the popliteal fossa (behind the knee) and the antecubital fossa (inner elbow). Preferably, in the use according to the invention, the at least one strain of Micrococcus genus is used on the axillary vault.

At least one strain of Micrococcus genus may be applied at a dosage of between 0.001 mg and 1 mg of the least one strain of Micrococcus genus on a dry basis per 100 cm ² of skin.

Non limitative example include that the composition may be applied at a dosage of between 0,001 and 1 mg of the bacterial preparation of Micrococcus genus on a dry basis per 100 cm ² of skin, 1 to 4 times per day.

In a second aspect, the invention also related to a cosmetic composition comprising bacteria of at least one strain of Micrococcus genus identified by the inventors.

Indeed, as it has been stated previously, inventors have identified new bacterial strains belonging to the Micrococcus genus and useful for use in odor inhibition such as in deodorant. Among them, some possess physiologic or metabolic characteristic which are of utmost importance regarding their use in cosmetic applications such as a high adherence to surface, a superior shelf stability and superior growth abilities.

As stated previously, the bacteria of the Micrococcus genus may be in living form, inactivated form, dead form, in the form of a lysate of said bacteria, or in a combination of said forms. The bacteria of the Micrococcus genus used in the context of this invention are preferably in living form or inactivated form. The bacteria used in the context of this invention may be bacteria from one or more strains of the Micrococcus genus. When the bacteria come from one or more strains of the Micrococcus genus, they are strains of the same species and/or strains of different species. The composition according to the invention may comprise at least one strain of Micrococcus genus comprising at least one molecule capable of degrading an aldehyde, more particularly the 2-nonenal. As can be understood by those skilled in the art, the at least one strain of Micrococcus genus is able to produce at least one molecule capable of degrading an aldehyde. Non-limitative example include that said molecule can be a protein and preferably an enzyme. This molecule, preferably an enzyme, can be an extracellular or intracellular. Hence, preferably, the at least one strain of Micrococcus genus is able to produce and release at least one molecule capable of degrading an aldehyde, more particularly the 2-nonenal. Particularly, the composition of the present invention comprises said Micrococcus strain is Micrococcus sp. Isolate Ml selected from the group consisting of Micrococcus yunnanensis, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus aloeverae and Micrococcus endophyticus. More particularly, the composition according to the present invention possesses the characteristics of the strain deposited on June 22, 2016 at the CNCM under number 1-5110.

The composition in the present invention may comprises an amount of bacteria belonging to the Micrococcus genus superior to 0.001 wt.%, ranging from 0.05 to 20 wt.%, from 0.05 to 3 % by weight relative to the total weight of dry extract of said composition.

When the composition according to the invention comprises bacteria of a strain of the Micrococcus genus, said composition may comprise 100 to 1 000 000 bacterial cell equivalents of bacteria of said strain of the Micrococcus genus for 100 g of said composition, preferably 10 000 to 100 000 bacterial cell equivalents for 100 g of said composition. Such concentration can be easily determined by known culture methods.

In particular, the invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising bacteria of at least one strain of Micrococcus genus as an active ingredient

In an embodiment, the cosmetic composition according to the invention does not comprise any other microorganism than bacteria of the Micrococcus genus.

In another embodiment, the composition according to the invention may also comprise other microorganisms, for example chosen among the microorganisms useful in the prevention and/or treatment of body malodor. These other microorganisms may be present in the composition in living form, inactive form, dead form, or in lysate form.

Preferably, Micrococcus strains according to the invention may be mixed with other ingredients to provide a convenient dosage form. Hence, the composition according to the invention may further comprises for example texture and wetting agents, fragrance, conservatives or additional active agent.

Such additional active agent may contribute, together with Micrococcus strains according to the invention, to solve the technical problem from the present invention. Advantageously, such an additional cosmetic active agent can be intended to exert a cosmetic care or hygiene effect on the skin.

When the composition according to the invention comprises living form or inactivated form of Micrococcus strains according to the invention, the composition according to the invention may also advantageously comprise at least one sugar, such as sucrose. Such sugar will help the establishment of the Micrococcus strains according to the invention in the microbial ecosystem of the skin.

In another embodiment, the composition according to the invention comprises Micrococcus strain in lyophilized form.

The composition according to the invention is preferably suitable for topical application. A composition for topical administration according to the invention may advantageously be formulated in any form that is suitable for skincare, in particular in the form of protective or care creams, milks, pastes, pomades, lotions, gels (for example a semi- solid emulsion in an alcohol base), ointment, deodorant compositions, depilatory creams bath compositions soaps, cleansing bars or aerosol compositions also containing a pressurized propellant (sprays). It can therefore be in any of the forms normally available for the selected mode of administration. The support may be of diverse nature depending on the type of composition under consideration.

As more particularly regards the compositions intended for external topical administration, they may be aqueous, aqueous-alcoholic or oily solutions, solutions or dispersions of the lotion or serum type, emulsions of liquid or semi-liquid consistency of the milk type, obtained by dispersing a fatty phase in an aqueous phase (O/W) or conversely (W/O), or suspensions or emulsions, of soft, semi-solid or solid consistency, of the cream type, aqueous or anhydrous gels, microemulsions, a nano-emulsion, a microcapsule preparation, microparticles preparation, composition containing a pressurized propellant, vesicular dispersions of ionic and/or nonionic type or wax/aqueous phase dispersion. These compositions are prepared according to the usual methods. When a composition of the invention is an emulsion, the proportion of the fatty phase may range from 5% to 80% by weight and preferably from 10% to 50% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. The oils, emulsifiers and co-emulsifiers used in the composition in emulsion form are chosen from those conventionally used in the cosmetics field. The emulsifier and the co- emulsifier may be present in the composition in a proportion ranging from 0.3% to 30% by weight and preferably from 0.5% to 20% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. When the composition of the invention is an oily solution or gel, the fatty phase may represent more than 90% of the total weight of the composition.

In a known manner, the formulation intended for topical administration may also contain adjuvants that are customary in the cosmetics field, such as hydrophilic or lipophilic gelling agents, hydrophilic or lipophilic active agents, preserving agents, antioxidants, solvents, fragrances, fillers, screening agents, odor absorbers and colorants. The amounts of these various adjuvants are those conventionally used in the field under consideration, for example from 0.01% to 20% of the total weight of the composition. Depending on their nature, these adjuvants may be introduced into the fatty phase and/or into the aqueous phase. As fatty substances that may be used in the invention, mention may be made of mineral oils, for instance hydrogenated polyisobutene and liquid petroleum jelly, plant oils, for instance a liquid fraction of shea butter, sunflower oil and apricot kernel oil, animal oils, for instance perhydrosqualene, synthetic oils, in particular purcellin oil, isopropyl myristate and ethylhexyl palmitate, unsaturated fatty acids and fluoro oils, for instance perfluoropolyethers. It is also possible to use fatty alcohols, fatty acids, for instance stearic acid and, for example, waxes, in particular paraffin wax, carnauba wax and beeswax. It is also possible to use silicone compounds, for instance silicone oils and for example cyclomethicone and dimethicone, and silicone waxes, resins and gums.

As emulsifiers that may be used in the present invention, mention may be made, for example, of glyceryl stearate, polysorbate 60, PPG-3 myristyl ether, silicone emulsifiers such as cetyl dimethicone copolyol, and sorbitan monostearate or tristearate, PEG-40 stearate and oxyethylenated (20 EO) sorbitan monostearate.

As solvents that may be used in the invention, mention may be made of lower alcohols, in particular ethanol and isopropanol, and propylene glycol.

Hydrophilic gelling agents that may be mentioned include carboxylic polymers such as carbomer, acrylic copolymers such as acrylate/alkyl acrylate copolymers, polyacrylamides, polysaccharides, for instance cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyalkyl celluloses and in particular hydroxypropyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, natural gums such as guar gum, locust bean gum and xanthan gum, and clays. Lipophilic gelling agents that may be mentioned include modified clays, for instance bentones, metal salts of fatty acids, for instance aluminium stearates and hydrophobic silica, or else ethylcellulose and polyethylene.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for preventing and/or treating body malodors comprising a step of applying on dry skin a cosmetic composition comprising at least one strain of the Micrococcus genus.

Particularly, this invention also relates to a method intended to balance the proportion of bacteria of the Micrococcus genus, producing malodors, in the microbiome present at the skin surface, comprising the topical administration of bacteria of at least one strain of the Micrococcus or a cosmetic composition as defined above, in an healthy individual with body malodors or at risk of having body malodors, preferably at an area of the skin suspected to induce body malodors.

As indicated previously, a process according to the invention can be carried out, topically, in particular by administration to the axilla of bacteria belonging to Micrococcus genus as an active agent for preventing and/or treating body malodors, and more particularly of a cosmetic composition as previously defined.

Advantageously, a process of the invention via topical administration can comprise the administration of a composition in accordance with the invention, for example in the form of gels, sprays, sera, lotions or creams.

A topical cosmetic process according to the invention can be carried out on a daily basis, at a rate of, for example, a single administration per day or one administration twice a day, for example once in the morning and once in the evening.

A topical cosmetic process according to the invention can be carried out over a time period ranging from one week to several weeks, or even several months, this period moreover possibly being repeated after periods without treatment, for several months or even several years. By way of example, the topical administration of a compound according to the invention may be repeated, for example, 2 to 3 times a day or more and generally over an extended period of at least 4 weeks, or even 4 to 15 weeks, with, where appropriate, one or more periods of interruption. The method is preferably continued for several days or several weeks after the disappearance of body malodor, possibly with a gradual reduction in the frequency of administration of the cosmetic composition.

The cosmetic composition used within the scope of the invention may particularly be used in healthy subjects, typically subjects not exhibiting skin pathologies.

In the description and the examples that follow, unless otherwise indicated, the percentages are percentages by weight and the ranges of values written in the form "between . . . and . . . " include the stated lower and upper limits.

The examples hereinafter are presented as non-limiting illustrations of the field of the invention.

EXAMPLES

1. Materials and method

1.1. Strain isolation

1.1.1. Sample collection

Sweat samples were obtained from volunteers at a public event with their consent.

Sweat samples were collected with adhesive cotton pads worn under the clothing and against the axilla. Participants were asked to wear the pads during 15 minutes of light exercise (playing tennis on a game console) or for 60 minutes while they explored the museum. Donors were also given a brief questionnaire on lifestyle, diet and deodorant use.

1.1.2. Sample evaluation

Odor evaluation was performed by volunteers from the same population at the same event. Sweat samples were coded by donor and stored in sealed glass vials. Volunteer smellers were asked to evaluate the samples for their intensity and pleasantness on a scale of 0 to 100. Smellers were also able to assign odor descriptors from a list of categories including note (Animal, chemical, spicy, etc.) and evoked mood (Happy, angry, anxious, etc.). Evaluation was double-blind, randomly assigned, and tracked with a custom web platform.

Samples of interest were identified from non-deodorant users with scores for pleasantness >90% and scores for intensity > 50% from at least two independent smellers. These scores place the donors in the top 1% of positively rated body odors.

1.1.3. Bacteria isolation & selection

Isolate Ml was identified by selective plating on minimal nonenal selective media using trans-2- nonenal as a primary carbon source (Table 2). The nonionic surfactant Tween 80 was included in the forumulation to solubilize nonenal. All the ingredients except Tween and nonenal were prepared sterile and heated to boiling, following standard media preparation practice. The mixture was cooled to 60 C prior to adding tween and nonenal, then mixed thoroughly prior to pouring plates.

Bacterial samples were collected from volunteer donors with their consent. A sterile cotton cloth (10 cm ² ) was soaked in 5 mL of saline solution with 0.1% Triton as a mild detergent. The cloth was rubbed vigoursly from the skin for 30 seconds, then returned to the sterile saline solution. Body sites sampled included the forehead, inner elbow and the palm of the hand. The cloth and solution were mixed vigorously to dislodge the bacteria, and 200 μί samples were plated directly on minimal nonenal selective media. Samples were incubated for 3 says at 37 C, after which isolate Ml appeared as a single growing colony.

Table 3. Composition of 1 L minimal nonenal selective media, formulated as solid-phase agar plates. All components are dissolved in water and prepared sterile prior to mixing.

1.2. Strain Characterization

1.2.1. DNA extraction and purification

DNA extraction was performed by resuspending a single bacterial colony in 50 μΙ of TE Buffer (1 mM EDTA, 10 mM Tris, pH 8.0) followed by incubation at 95°C for 5 minutes to lyse the cells. Unpurified lysate was used directly for PCR and genetic analysis.

1.2.2. Amplification of the 16S rRNA gene

For each sample a region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the universal primers 27F (SEQ ID n°l) and 1492R (SEQ ID n°2) using a Bio-Rad T100 Thermal Cycler. The amplified region comprises hyper-variable regions VI and V2. For each sample a 25 μΙ PCR mix was prepared containing: 10 μΙ of Phusion HF Buffer (5X) with 1 μΙ of dNTPs (lOmM), 0.5 μΙ of each primer (lOmM), 0.5μΙ of Phusion polymerase (5υ/μΙ), 35 μΙ of nuclease-free water and 1 μΙ of DNA template. PCR was run under the following conditions: 98 ^Q C for 0.5 min followed by 35 cycles of 98 ^Q C for 10 s, 55 ^Q C for 0.5 min and 72 ^Q C for 1.5 min and a final extension step at 72 ^Q C for 2 min. The amplification process was checked by electrophoresis in agarose gel (1%). PCR products were purified using Promega Wizard ^® SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System and quantified with a NanoDrop 2000 Spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific). The PCR products were directly sequenced. 1.2.3. 16S RNA sequencing

PC products were sequenced using the Sanger sequencing method, performed by GATC the commercial sequencing provider.

1.2.4. Desiccation Tolerance and Shelf Stability

Dessication tolerance was assessed in strains grown to saturation in tryptic soy medium, then pelleted by centrifugation and dried overnight in a dessication chamber. Dessication was performed at room temperature under mild vaccum, with calcium sulfate supplied as a dessicant. No external cryoprotectants or osmoprotectants were added. Following dessication, cells were left at room temperature (15 ^Q C - 25 ^Q C) and ambient light conditions for 10 weeks. At periodic intervals, a defined dry weight of cells was collected and resuspended in phosphate-buffered saline solution. (8 g/L NaCI, 0.2 g/L KCI, 1.42 g/L Na ₂ HP0 ₄ , 0.24 g/L KH ₂ P0 ₄ ). Viable cells were counted by was assessed by diluting and plating on tryptic soy agar. 1.2.5. Growth speed

Colonies were streaked out at low density on tryptic soy agar and incubated at 37 ^Q C. Growth speed was assessed as the time to the appearance of colonies 1 mm in diameter.

2. Results

1.3. Strains isolation

The isolation workflow used by the inventors follows standard microbiology practices. This method routinely isolates mostly Corynebacterium, as well as significant numbers of Brevibacterium and Micrococcus. More than 100 Micrococcus isolates have been isolated and further screened for significant advantages compared to other Micrococcus strains.

Among those strains, one superior strain has been identified: Ml

1.4. Strains characterization

1.4.1. Taxonomic analysis

Figure 1 represents the position of Isolate Ml in a global taxonomy of described Micrococcus isolates. The phylogeny was produced from a global alignment of 16s r NA sequences which is compared with Jukes-Cantor genetic distances and grouped by UPGMA clustering. All described 16S sequences for the genus Micrococcus were collected from the NCBI RefSeq Targeted Loci Project in June of 2016. The sequence for a Brevibacerium isolate was used as an outgroup to root the tree. Isolate Ml shows high sequence similarity to the described strain M. yunnanensis (1302/1303 bp).

1.4.2. Enzymatic and fermentation activity assays

Enzymatic and fermentation activity assays for Micrococcus sp. Isolate Ml as determined using an api ^® Coryne kit (Biomerieux 20 900). The analytical profile index (API) describes the presence or absence of specific enzymatic activities within an isolated microbial strain. Individual tests make use of substrate molecules that produce color when acted on by specific metabolic enzymes. The color changes may be spontaneous or revealed by the addition of developing reagents. The set of enzymatic activites that are present or absent in a specific strain represent a characteristic metabolic profile. Strain profiles can be used to rapidly identify a strain with limited taxonomic precision, or to distinguish between taxnomically distinct strains.

Table 3. Enzymatic and fermentation activity assays for Micrococcus sp. Isolate Ml as determined using an api ^® Coryne kit (Biomerieux 20 900). 1.4.3. Metabolic activity of Micrococcus sp. Isolate Ml

Figure 2 represents metabolic activity of Micrococcus sp. Isolate Ml with a variety of carbon sources implicated in body odor. An isolate of Micrococcus (circle) or a control strain of Corynebacterium (point) was suspended in saline solution with the indicated carbon source. Metabolic activity was measured as tetrazolium dye reduction over 48 hours. For the indicated compounds, Micrococcus showed a greater metabolic activity. In the absence of carbon, no activity was observed (star). Both isolate Ml and Corynebacterium showed comparable activity with dihydroxy acetone, a control compound not related to body odor.