Researchers map mosquito cells that may help the insects choose tastiest humans
Published:12 Mar.2023 Source:Johns Hopkins Medicine
In a bid to understand why mosquitoes may be more attracted to one human than another, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have mapped specialized receptors on the insects' nerve cells that are able to fine-tune their ability to detect particularly "welcoming" odors in human skin.
Receptors on mosquito neurons have an important role in the insects' ability to identify people who present an attractive source of a blood meal, according to Christopher Potter, Ph.D., associate professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Understanding the molecular biology of mosquito odor-sensing is key to developing new ways to avoid bites and the burdensome diseases they cause," he says.