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2023-05-21 Science & Technology
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Are you a mosquito magnet? It might be for one unpleasant reason
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[FoxNews] New study published in Cell Biology reveals insights into what attracts biting mosquitoes.
New research has found that smelly armpits may turn some people into a mosquito magnet.
This is apparently the reason that some people are so plagued by the annoying critters — while others get off scot-free, according to scientists.
The pesky insects are drawn to body odor, also known as BO — and mosquitoes can find us from 350 feet away once they get a whiff, according to SWNS, the British news service.
The new findings are based on the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, which was let loose in an ice rink-sized outdoor testing arena in Zambia.
Said the study's lead author, Dr. Diego Giraldo, a neuroscientist, "This is the largest system to assess olfactory preference for any mosquito in the world. And it is a very busy sensory environment for the mosquitoes," as SWNS reported.
The team from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, released 200 hungry mosquitoes each night and used infrared motion cameras to observe how often they landed on evenly spaced pads heated to 35ºC — mimicking human skin, the report said.
The aromas of six volunteers sleeping in surrounding single-person tents were piped onto the pads over six consecutive nights.
It was a good sign they were ready to bite.
Body odor was apparently a more attractive bait than CO2 — a known cue for mosquitoes.
But further tests showed that the swarm of 200 individuals were also choosy. The aromas of six volunteers sleeping in surrounding single-person tents were piped onto the pads over six consecutive nights.
The study also identified 40 chemicals that all of the humans emitted — though at different rates.
Said lead co-author Dr. Stephanie Rankin-Turner, an analytical chemist, "It is probably a ratio-specific blend they are following … We don't really know yet exactly what aspect of skin secretions, microbial metabolites or breath emissions are really driving this, but we are hoping we will be able to figure that out in the coming years."
The study drove home "just how powerful these mosquitoes are as host seekers."
People who were more attractive to mosquitoes consistently emitted more carboxylic acids produced by skin microbes, the study said.
By contrast, the person who was least attractive to the mosquitoes gave off fewer acids but triple the amount of eucalyptol, a plant compound.
| Good to know, since the local mosquitos consistently prefer me to Mr. Wife, even though he is bigger and warmer. |
It is found in oils, herbs and spice — and elevated levels may be related to diet.
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Posted by Skidmark 2023-05-21 00:52||
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