Moraxella species are primarily responsible for generating malodor in laundry

摘要: Many people in Japan often detect an unpleasant odor generated from laundry that is hung to dry indoors or when using their already-dried laundry. Such described as a "wet-and-dirty-dustcloth-like malodor" "acidic sweaty odor." In this study, we isolated the major microorganisms associated with such malodor, component of which has been identified 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid (4M3H). The isolates were Moraxella osloensis by morphological observation and biochemical phylogenetic tree analyses. M. potential generate 4M3H bacterium known cause opportunistic infections but never malodor clothes. We found exists at high frequency various living environments, particularly Japan. showed tolerance desiccation UV light irradiation, providing one possible reasons why they survive during even after drying.