This is interesting and makes possible a pathway to mosquito avoidance. It may turn out be important.
Mosquitoes continue to be problem though and ending malaria continues to be the one most important thing we can do globally to enhance human health.
We are making progress..
We are making progress..
.
Here’s the science on why you’re a mosquito magnet (plus some natural ways to keep them at bay)
Monday, August 26, 2019 by: Melissa Smith
Tags: aedes aegypti, dengue, goodscience, infectious diseases, insect repellents, IR8a, Malaria, mosquito bites, mosquito repellents, mosquitoes, odor, remedies, research, smell
https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-08-26-heres-the-science-on-why-youre-a-mosquito-magnet.html
(Natural News)
Female mosquitoes rely on sensory information to find their food source
– human blood. They pick up on body odor, carbon dioxide, heat,
moisture, and visual cues. A new study published in the journal Current Biology now discovered that a specific odor receptor in their antennae
also serves as a detector of humans, picking up on chemicals found in
human sweat. This unique odor receptor is known as Ionotropic Receptor
8a (IR8a). It is used by female mosquitoes, particularly the Aedes aegypti species, to detect lactic acid.
The researchers, who were from Florida International University,
also found mosquitoes lacking a functional version of the IR8a gene
were much less attracted to humans. They suggested that odors that can
mask the IR8a pathway could improve the efficacy of mosquito repellents.
This pathway could also be used to make new mosquito attractants that
could lure mosquitoes away from people and attract them into traps
instead.
How the study was carried out
For this study, the researchers looked at IR8a,
which is expressed in the antenna of mosquitoes. They used the
CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system to block the activity of Ir8a in A. aegypti
mosquitoes. Then, they conducted various lab tests to see if disrupting
this receptor would make mosquitoes less attracted to humans.
The team asked people to put their hands into a device called
olfactometer and let mosquitoes smell them from afar. Captive mosquitoes
could fly through the device to get close, but not close enough to bite
the participants. The results showed that disabling IR8a made the
mosquitoes significantly less interested to fly toward the humans’ skin.
In addition, to prove that it was a response to smell that was
being affected, the researchers also asked the participants to wear
nylon sleeves for nearly 12 hours to collect sweat. Then, they put these
sweat-drenched sleeves into the olfactometer. Similarly, the mutant
mosquitoes were less enticed to the scent than normal mosquitoes were. A. aegypti mosquitoes
transmit diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, and Zika. The
researchers suggested that the transmission of these diseases can be
stopped if there is a way to stop mosquitoes from biting humans in the
first place.
Natural mosquito repellents
You can protect yourself against mosquitoes without having to use a
DEET-based chemical repellent. Such products are harmful to your health
and the environment. (Related: How toxic is DEET? Zika virus less harmful than the insect repellent ‘fighting’ it.)
Here are several safe and natural mosquito repellents you can make at home:
- Lemon eucalyptus oil – Mix one-part lemon eucalyptus oil with 10 parts sunflower oil or witch hazel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved eucalyptus oil as an effective ingredient in mosquito repellents.
- Lavender – When crushed, lavender flowers produce a fragrance and oil that can repel mosquitoes. You can apply crushed lavender flowers or lavender essential oil to your arms, ankles, and other bite-sensitive areas of the body. Lavender can also calm and soothe your skin.
- Thyme oil – You can make a spray mosquito repellent with thyme oil. Just mix five drops of thyme oil with two ounces of water. If you’re out in the woods, you may also throw thyme leaves into a campfire to prevent malarial mosquitoes from biting you.
Read more stories on how to protect yourself from mosquitoes naturally at Remedies.news.
Sources include:
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