Compounds from human odor induce attraction and landing in female yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti).

ABSTRACT: The female Aedes aegypti mosquito is a vector of many human diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, and Zika. Transmission of these viruses occurs when an infected female mosquito locates a suitable human host, alights, and blood feeds. Aedes aegypti use human-emitted odors, as well as heat and visual cues, for host location. However, none of the previously identified human-produced compounds induce significant orientation and landing on a human host. Here we show that female yellow fever mosquitoes orient to and land on a mixture of compounds identified from human skin rubbings. Using odor collection, extraction, a two-choice, bioassay-guided fractionation, and chemical analysis, we identified mixtures of 2-ketoglutaric acid and L-lactic acid as landing attractants for female Ae. aegypti.

SUBMITTER: Bello JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9492692 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature