Science Reveals Why Certain People Attract More Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes have long been a persistent nuisance for many, with some individuals seemingly more susceptible than others. Mosquitoes hone in on exposed skin and use their needle-like proboscises to feed on blood. But why are certain individuals more prone to mosquito bites? According to a study published in the journal Cell by researchers at Rockefeller University in 2022, the answer may lie in an individual's specific skin chemistry.
Researchers discovered that people with higher levels of certain acids on their skin are 100 times more attractive to female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are responsible for the spread of various diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika. In the study, researchers collected natural scents from individuals' skin and found that one particular individual, dubbed 'subject 33', was particularly attractive to mosquitoes. The findings suggest that chemical analysis reveals that 'subject 33' or highly attractive individuals, produce significantly more carboxylic acids in their skin emissions.
According to lead researcher Leslie Vosshall, 'subject 33' was unmatched by any other tested individual in terms of attractiveness. Vosshall described 'subject 33' as being 'undefeated' in the mosquito's eyes, stating that "they were totally undefeated. Nobody beat them."
The study indicates that there is a link between elevated carboxylic acids in 'mosquito-magnet' human skin odor and genetic mutations in carboxylic acid receptors. This suggests that such compounds contribute to differential mosquito attraction. However, it remains unknown why mosquitoes are particularly drawn to this specific chemical, but a person's unique skin climate is believed to play a significant role.
The researchers also acknowledged the limitations of the study, stating that they could not remove carboxylic acids from the skin of highly attractive individuals to establish necessity. Human skin odor is a complex blend of various chemical compounds, and this study focused exclusively on compounds with carboxylic acid groups. Despite these limitations, the study may provide valuable insights into what specific skin odorants are most significant to mosquitoes, which could subsequently lead to the development of more effective repellents to combat the annual impact of mosquito-borne diseases on around 700 million people.
[1] Study: "Chemical Ecology of Differential Attraction of Aedes aegypti Mosquito to Human Donors," Leslie Vosshall et al., Cell, May 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.04.042.
In a separate report, a South Korean mother successfully reunited with her long-lost daughter after 44 years. Details on this heartwarming reunion can be found in a separate article.
The study published in the journal Cell in 2022 suggests that an individual's specific skin chemistry, particularly the presence of higher levels of certain carboxylic acids, may increase attractiveness to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can cause medical-conditions like dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika. Furthermore, mental-health issues seem to play no role in susceptibility to mosquito bites, unlike previous theories, but the unique skin climate and specific skin odorants could contribute to differential mosquito attraction, a potential lead for health-and-wellness research aimed at developing more effective skin-care products as repellents to combat mosquito-borne diseases.
