New discovery of the sense of smell of Anopheles mosquitoes

Scientists have discovered an important characteristic of the sense of smell of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, opening up the opportunity to make repellents or attract mosquitoes more effectively, contributing to preventing and repelling malaria.

In a study recently published in Current Biology (USA), a group of international experts created a detailed diagram of the odor receptor that Anopheles mosquitoes used to find people who suck blood and transmit disease. fever.

Thereby, scientists have discovered the ability to receive the tentacles of the tentacles, a part derived from mosquito heads. Together with the beard, this tentacle helps Anopheles mosquitoes to smell and taste.

Previous studies of Aedes aeqypti mosquitoes, the causative agent of dengue fever and yellow fever, suggest that the mosquito's tentacle contains receptor cells that are sensitive to CO ₂ and Octenol - an ingredient in human sweat. But in this new study, experts found that the tentacles of Anopheles mosquitoes are not only sensitive to those chemicals, but they also have other receptor cells to recognize other characteristic smells of humans.

The tentacles of Anopheles mosquitoes are also very sensitive to CO ₂ and Octenol, but they have other receptor cells that help mosquitoes acquire other characteristic odors. (Photo: malariajournal.com)

According to the team, Anopheles mosquitoes use tentacles to detect targets remotely; In the near-range, it uses a tap to feel.

Knowing the mechanism used by Anopheles mosquitoes to detect and attack humans, experts can create new substances to drive them away or lure them into traps to destroy and contribute to limiting malaria - a serious disease with the most common nature today.

Lead researcher, biology professor Laurence Zwiebel, of Vanderbilt University, said they are designing substances that attract Anopheles mosquitoes by manipulating receptors in their olfactory receptors. Through this conductor, mosquitoes will be trapped and cannot find humans to attack.

This study was conducted to develop a strategy to use chemicals to prevent malaria transmission caused by Anopheles mosquitoes.(Photo: umn.edu)

Professor Zwiebel said: "We will use biological elements that have just been discovered to create chemicals that can prevent the Anopheles mosquito's human attack behavior."

According to him, this study fills a large gap in scientific understanding for mosquito's olfactory system. Most of the previous studies focused on the physiological and molecular biology of the beard and hose of Anopheles mosquitoes, but little attention was paid to their tentacles.

As part of the ' Global Challenges ' program of the ' Global Health Initiative ', this study was conducted to develop a strategy to use chemicals to prevent malaria transmission from Anopheles mosquitoes. cause.

Currently, about 40% of the world's population is at risk of malaria. Every year, this disease seriously affects 500 million people; In Africa alone, more than 700,000 children die from malaria each year.

The study was conducted by experts from Vanderbilt and Yale University in the US, Wageningen University of the Netherlands, Ifakara Medical Research and Development Center in Tanzania, and the Medical Research Council of Gambia.

Quang Thinh
According to Daily Science, Press Association, Scenta, VietNamNet