Genes and Odors Underlying the Recent Evolution of Mosquito Preference for Humans.

Publication Year
2016

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Mosquito species that specialize in biting humans are few but dangerous. They include the African malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii, as well as Aedes aegypti, the cosmopolitan vector of dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. These mosquitoes have evolved a remarkable innate preference for human odor that helps them find and bite us. Here I review what is known about this important evolutionary adaptation, from its historical documentation to its chemical and molecular basis.

Journal
Curr Biol
Volume
26
Issue
1
Pages
R41-6
Date Published
2016 Jan 11
ISSN Number
1879-0445
Alternate Journal
Curr Biol
PMCID
PMC4714039
PMID
26766234