| Title: | Acute olfactory response of Culex mosquitoes to a human- and bird-derived attractant |
| Address: | "Department of Entomology, Honorary Maeda-Duffey Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Print) 0027-8424 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "West Nile virus, which is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes while feeding on birds and humans, has emerged as the dominant vector borne disease in North America. We have identified natural compounds from humans and birds, which are detected with extreme sensitivity by olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) on the antennae of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus). One of these semiochemicals, nonanal, dominates the odorant spectrum of pigeons, chickens, and humans from various ethnic backgrounds. We determined the specificity and sensitivity of all ORN types housed in different sensilla types on Cx. quinquefasciatus antennae. Here, we present a comprehensive map of all antennal ORNs coding natural ligands and their dose-response functions. Nonanal is detected by a large array of sensilla and is by far the most potent stimulus; thus, supporting the assumption that Cx. quinquefasciatus can smell humans and birds. Nonanal and CO(2) synergize, thus, leading to significantly higher catches of Culex mosquitoes in traps baited with binary than in those with individual lures" |
| Keywords: | Aldehydes/analysis/pharmacology Animal Structures/drug effects/ultrastructure Animals *Birds Carbon Dioxide/pharmacology Culex/*drug effects/*physiology Ethnicity Female Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Humans Male Olfactory Pathways/*drug effects/*ph; |
| Notes: | "MedlineSyed, Zainulabeuddin Leal, Walter S eng Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2009/10/28 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Nov 3; 106(44):18803-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0906932106. Epub 2009 Oct 26" |
