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Lovers Share Colonies of Skin Microbes, Study Finds (metro.co.uk)

Posted by BeauHD on from the microbial-communities dept.

Aneri Pattani reports via The New York Times (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternate source): Couples who live together share a lot of things: beds, bathrooms, food, toiletries. But one thing they might not expect to share? Skin bacteria. In a study published Thursday in mSystems, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, researchers studied the skin microbiomes of 10 sexually active, heterosexual couples living together. A microbiome is a mini-ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms living on and in the body. Each square centimeter of skin hosts between one million and one billion microorganisms, according to the study. After analyzing 330 skin swabs collected from 17 parts of the body on each participant, the researchers found that each person significantly influenced the microbial communities on a lover's skin. In fact, computer algorithms relying on microbial data were able to accurately match couples with up to 86 percent accuracy.

10 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. This is Slashdot by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 2

    If you want to avoid another person's microbes, don't touch their keyboard or mouse.

    1. Re:This is Slashdot by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

      The cleaning lady asked to use my computer and now she's pregnant.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  2. I would be surprised... by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...if this *weren't* the case.

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    1. Re:I would be surprised... by rtb61 · · Score: 2

      Dude for the simple minded. Understanding the biome that infects us all, it's impact, postive and negative, is essential to future health, as is how it spreads and changes and when it becomes a threat and even weirder when you should actually have a more healthy one that suits your genetics, actually smeared all over you. There is the variety, what it constitutes, why it is unhealthy or just as importantly healthy, what trace elements are produced that are worthwhile, what worthwhile functions are exhibited including elimination of unhealthy microbes. In fact a whole school of study and understanding to achieve better human health, you could of course incorporate it with internal ones, especially in the digestive tract but I suppose you would just consider that shite :| (ignorance is strength https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...).

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  3. How fast? by John.Banister · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wonder how fast this happens. Could some sort of "infidelity testing service" spring up out of this research?

    1. Re:How fast? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      iBiome has detected a 43% change in your wifes skin biome.

      would you like to see a list of divorce lawyers in your area?

    2. Re:How fast? by fiver-hoo · · Score: 2

      No need for a service. Just use your nose. Black people even wrote a song about it called "Smell Yo' Dick". Google it.

      But there is a pretty easy way around it I've been employing for years each time after I have sex with a prostitute. All you have to to is get a dirty pair of your wife's underwear out of the laundry, or snag a tampon out of the bathroom trash.

      After you have sex with the prostitute and get back home, moderately moisten your chosen item with a spray bottle of lukewarm water and just little bit of sugar. Let that sit for a few minutes while you scrub your dick, balls, asshole and rest of groin area with betadine then take a nice hot shower.

      When you get out of the shower, take your prepared wife's tampon/underwear and rub it around nice and good over the area you just sanitized. For good measure I then usually lay on the bed and relax for awhile with it wrapped around my dick while reading a book or watching some TV. Lay a small blanket over the area as well to hold in body heat and help the colony replenish itself. Don't get fancy and try to use a heating pad or something, going far above body temperature will cause you to regrow the hive with a much higher balance of heat loving friendlies and you won't smell right again until some time has passed for it to rebalance itself. Not something you want for a variety of reasons.

      And that's it. Presto chango it's like you never pounded that whore in the ass an hour ago. Bulletproof.

  4. The marital contract has... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Germs of endearment.

  5. Any other effects? by kubajz · · Score: 2

    It is known that gut microbes have a lot of influence on physiology including mood. I wonder if these skin microbes also influence some things in their host in some way... could help explain why long-term couples are alike in a number of things that are not necessarily habits.

  6. Re:How fast?; how romantic? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't understand some peoples hobbies, comics, trainspotting and now this.