How mosquitoes detect a common compound in plant-based mosquito repellent – UW News

A mosquito feeding on a host.
New research by an international team, including researchers at the University of Washington, reveals that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (such as the one pictured above) use a specific sensory receptor to detect and avoid borneol, an organic compound found in several aromatic plants, including camphor trees, rosemary and other aromatic herbs. Photo: James Gathany/CDC

Mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue, malaria and Zika, cause more than 600,000 deaths worldwide per year. Mosquitoes are increasingly becoming resistant to current insecticides, leading to a pressing need for new methods to prevent mosquito bites — and the potential transmission of disease.

New research by an international team, including researchers at the University of Washington, provides insight into how an organic compound common in plant-based…

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