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Mutant mosquitoes lose lust for human scent

Nature (2013)Cite this article

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Experiments with key smell receptors may help in development of insect repellents.

Mosquitoes that are genetically modified to lack some of their sense of smell cannot tell humans from other animals and no longer avoid approaching people who are slathered in bug spray. These findings, published online today in Nature1, could help scientists to design insect repellents to combat malaria, dengue and agricultural pests.

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References

  1. DeGennaro, M. et al. Nature http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12206 (2013).

  2. Jones, P. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 108, 8821–8825 (2012).

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  1. Ewen Callaway
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Callaway, E. Mutant mosquitoes lose lust for human scent. Nature (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2013.13089

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2013.13089

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