Blame genes if mosquitoes like the way you smell
How likely it is that you’ll get “eaten alive” by mosquitoes may
depend on your body odor genes, according to a new study with twins.
Researchers say the pilot study may lead to a better understanding
about how our intimate relationship with mosquitoes has evolved—and
could ultimately result in the development of better ways to control
mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit.
“Genetics, and particularly quantitative genetics, is currently an
exciting field where we constantly find new applications and
developments that have, and will have, implications on our daily life,”
says study coauthor Salvador Gezan, assistant professor of quantitative
genetics and biometrics at the University of Florida Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences.
“With this study, we have unmasked interesting genetic control of
attractiveness to mosquitoes. This is a step forward to the developing
of tools aimed at our personal genotyping.”
Body odor
The findings, published in
PLOS ONE,
build on previous research that showed attractiveness to insects is
based on differences in body odor. People who are less attractive to
mosquitoes produce natural repellents. It seems this trait is
genetically controlled.
A series of trials using 18 identical and 19 non-identical female
twins showed that identical twin pairs were more similar in
attractiveness to mosquitoes than non-identical twin pairs.
The extent to which genes play a part—the level of heritability—in
the trait for being attractive or not to mosquitoes was found to be at a
similar level (0.83) as that associated with height (0.8) and IQ
(0.5-0.8).
In the experiment,
Aedes aegypti, dengue mosquitoes, were
released into a Y-shaped tube which divides into two sections. They were
allowed to fly down either side towards the odor from the study
participants’ hands to see which twin they were most attracted to.
Female mosquitoes display preferences for the smell of certain people
when they choose who to bite to feed on the blood, which they require
to reproduce. For example, pregnant women are more attractive to
Anopheles gambiae
(the principal malaria vector in Africa) than their non-pregnant
counterparts, and people with a greater body mass also appear to be more
attractive to mosquitoes and midges.
Diet is often suggested as an explanation, with anecdotes about
eating garlic or drinking beer to keep mosquitoes away. However, there
is no clear and consistent dietary explanation.
“By investigating the genetic mechanism behind attractiveness to
biting insects such as mosquitoes we can move closer to using this
knowledge for better ways of keeping us safe from bites and the diseases
insects can spread through bites,” says senior author James Logan,
senior lecturer in medical entomology at the London School of Hygiene
& Tropical Medicine.
“If we understand the genetic basis for variation between individuals
it could be possible to develop bespoke ways to control mosquitoes
better, and develop new ways to repel them. In the future we may even be
able to take a pill which will enhance the production of natural
repellents by the body and ultimately replace skin lotions.”
Funded by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, the pilot study was carried
out in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and Rothamsted
Research.
Source: University of Florida
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