Department of Biology and Environment, University of Haifa in Oranim, Haifa, Israel.
Curr Microbiol. 2012 Jun;64(6):588-91. doi: 10.1007/s00284-012-0113-8. Epub 2012 Mar 29.
Cerumen, also known as ear wax, is a yellowish waxy substance secreted from specialized glands in the ear canal of mammals. Human cerumen is rich in protein (mainly keratin), lipids (long-chain fatty acids), alcohols, squalene, and cholesterol. To-date the role of cerumen is not totally clear but it is believed to have antimicrobial properties. Here we describe the isolation of multiple bacterial species from human cerumen (among them many Staphylococcus spp. and, interestingly, multiple Bacillus spp.) showing that many of these bacteria harbor biochemical traits enabling them to utilize different cerumen components for their growth. We also suggest the existence of microbial consortia.
耵聍，也被称为耳垢，是哺乳动物耳道内的特殊腺体分泌的一种黄色蜡状物质。人类耵聍富含蛋白质（主要是角蛋白）、脂质（长链脂肪酸）、醇、角鲨烯和胆固醇。迄今为止，耵聍的作用尚不完全清楚，但据信它具有抗菌特性。在这里，我们描述了从人类耵聍中分离出多种细菌（其中包括许多葡萄球菌属和有趣的多种芽孢杆菌属），这些细菌具有使它们能够利用不同的耵聍成分进行生长的生化特征。我们还提出了微生物群落的存在。
