Climate and Urbanization Drive Mosquito Preference for Humans.

TitleClimate and Urbanization Drive Mosquito Preference for Humans.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsRose, NH, Sylla, M, Badolo, A, Lutomiah, J, Ayala, D, Aribodor, OB, Ibe, N, Akorli, J, Otoo, S, Mutebi, J-P, Kriete, AL, Ewing, EG, Sang, R, Gloria-Soria, A, Powell, JR, Baker, RE, White, BJ, Crawford, JE, McBride, CS
JournalCurr Biol
Volume30
Issue18
Pagination3570-3579.e6
Date Published2020 Sep 21
ISSN1879-0445
KeywordsAedes, Africa, Animals, Cities, Climate, Female, Genetics, Population, Genome, Insect, Humans, Insect Bites and Stings, Insect Proteins, Male, Mosquito Vectors, Population Density, Urbanization
Abstract

<p>The majority of mosquito-borne illness is spread by a few mosquito species that have evolved to specialize in biting humans, yet the precise causes of this behavioral shift are poorly understood. We address this gap in the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti. We first collect and characterize the behavior of mosquitoes from 27 sites scattered across the species' ancestral range in sub-Saharan Africa, revealing previously unrecognized variation in preference for human versus animal odor. We then use modeling to show that over 80% of this variation can be predicted by two ecological factors-dry season intensity and human population density. Finally, we integrate this information with whole-genome sequence data from 375 individual mosquitoes to identify a single underlying ancestry component linked to human preference. Genetic changes associated with human specialist ancestry were concentrated in a few chromosomal regions. Our findings suggest that human-biting in this important disease vector originally evolved as a by-product of breeding in human-stored water in areas where doing so provided the only means to survive the long, hot dry season. Our model also predicts that the rapid urbanization currently taking place in Africa will drive further mosquito evolution, causing a shift toward human-biting in many large cities by 2050.</p>

DOI10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.092
Alternate JournalCurr Biol
PubMed ID32707056
PubMed Central IDPMC7511451
Grant ListR00 DC012069 / DC / NIDCD NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI101112 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U01 AI115595 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States