Odour-mediated host selection and discrimination in mosquitoes

Sammanfattning

Haematophagous female mosquitoes differ in their selection of hosts, ranging from generalists to specialists. Specialist mosquitoes, particularly those that prefer to feed on humans, constitute a significant threat to human health, as they can transmit pathogens causing, e.g. malaria, yellow fever, dengue and West Nile fever. To select and discriminate among potential vertebrate host species, mosquitoes rely heavily on their sense of smell. In this chapter, we distinguish between host preference and choice, terms that often are used erroneously in conjunction with host selection and discrimination, and the methods used to define these behaviours. Increasing evidence suggest that mosquitoes rely on odour blends, often composed of shared generic volatile organic compounds, for host discrimination. The identity of these host-related compounds is discussed, along with available information on their cognate chemosensory receptors and neural circuitry. Fundamental knowledge underlying the molecular mechanisms regulating odour-mediated host selection will continue to be key for our improved understanding of the genetic basis and evolution of host discrimination. While there has been significant progress in revealing the mechanisms regulating odour-mediated host discrimination in mosquitoes, we conclude that there are still open questions to address.

Nyckelord

host preference; host choice; chemosensory receptors; evolution

Publicerad i

Titel: Sensory ecology of disease vectors
Utgivare: Wageningen Academic Publishers

SLU författare

• Hinze, Annika

  • Institutionen för växtskyddsbiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Hill, Sharon

  • Institutionen för växtskyddsbiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Ignell, Rickard

  • Institutionen för växtskyddsbiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Ekologi
Evolutionsbiologi

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-932-9_9
• ISBN: 978-90-8686-380-8
• eISBN: 978-90-8686-932-9

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139570