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Updated: Jan 12, 2026
08:46
Myeloid Cell Isolation from Mouse Skin and Draining Lymph Node Following Intradermal Immunization with Live Attenuated Plasmodium Sporozoites
Published on: May 18, 2016
18.2K
[Skin flora, odor and malaria transmission]
1State Key Laboratory of Genetics and Development of Complex Phenotypes, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200438, China.
Summary
Malaria infection alters host body odor, making people more attractive to mosquitoes. A study found ethylbenzene, a volatile compound, increases mosquito attraction, offering new malaria control avenues.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Parasitology
- Chemical Ecology
Background:
- Malaria is a significant mosquito-borne disease transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- Host body odor is a primary attractant for Anopheles mosquitoes.
- Plasmodium infection alters host body odor, increasing attractiveness to mosquitoes, but mechanisms are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the changes in host body odor following Plasmodium infection.
- To identify specific volatile compounds responsible for increased mosquito attraction.
- To explore novel strategies for malaria control based on these findings.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of skin flora and volatile substances in mice infected with Plasmodium.
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify volatile compounds.
- Olfactometer assays to assess mosquito attraction to infected hosts and specific compounds.
Main Results:
- Plasmodium infection caused significant alterations in the skin microbiome and volatile profiles of mice.
- Ethylbenzene was identified as a key volatile compound that increased significantly after infection.
- Mice infected with Plasmodium, and consequently emitting higher levels of ethylbenzene, showed increased attractiveness to female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Conclusions:
- Plasmodium infection alters host volatile profiles, with ethylbenzene playing a role in enhanced mosquito attraction.
- Understanding these odor changes provides new insights into malaria transmission dynamics.
- Targeting ethylbenzene production or its olfactory reception could lead to novel malaria vector control strategies.
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