British scientists research suggests smells attract mosquitoes people likely to be inherited. The mosquitoes love taste of your blood new research suggests you can probably thank your parents for that.
British scientists have found that a person’s attractiveness to mosquitoes likely inherited, a finding that could lead to new insect repellents.
We know some people attract more mosquitoes than others,” said University of Sydney medical entomologist Cameron Webb.
Pregnant women know more enticing to mosquitoes, as people with larger body weights and higher body temperatures.
Differences in body odour also associated with mosquito attractiveness.
We’ve thought this due to the smelly chemical cocktails on our skin,” said Dr Webb, who not involved in the latest research.
It turns out these smells that attract mosquitoes could inherited,” he said.
Given that body odour partly controlled by our genes, researcher James Logan.
And his colleagues set out to find if there a genetic link behind some people’s appeal to mosquitoes.
British scientists research suggests smells attract mosquitoes people likely to be inherited.
The team exposed a common mosquito variety, Aedes aegypti, to the odour of 18 pairs of identical twins, who share the same DNA, and 19 non-identical twin pairs, who are not genetically identical.
While the study was small, it found that if mosquitoes attracted to one identical twin they more likely to also favour the other twin.
Meanwhile, mosquitoes that liked one non-identical twin didn’t necessarily want a taste of their sibling.
Dr Logan said the heritability of a person’s mosquito attractiveness, or the extent in which genes involved,.
Similar to the heritability of height and IQ. Their findings published in the journal PLOS One.
By investigating the genetic mechanism behind attractiveness to biting insects such as mosquitoes.
We can move closer to using this knowledge to develop better ways of keeping us safe from bites and the diseases insects can spread through bites,” he said.
Dr Webb said while the study fascinating, it tested a species of mosquito that mostly fed on humans.
And the results may not replicated when tested with mosquitoes that feed on a wider range of warm-blooded animals.
British scientists research suggests smells attract mosquitoes people likely to inherited.
The reality is that mosquitoes will bite when they get the chance,” said Dr Webb, from the Marie Bashir Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity.
Topical insect repellents, particularly those containing either DEET or picaridin, will consistently provide the best protection.”
While the recent rain that has battered the NSW coast would usually provide perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Dr Webb said the cooler weather of late would likely keep populations to less problematic levels.
Smells attract mosquitoes people likely to be inherited.
We’ve probably dodged a bullet with the rain,” he said. A few weeks back and there would have been a big jump in mosquito populations.”
But he said people living in northern coastal regions of NSW should continue avoiding mosquito bites.
