Japan-led research finds method to prevent mosquito mating by targeting hearing
The team, led by neuroscience professor Azusa Kamikouchi, said it may be possible to eliminate mosquito-borne diseases without using insecticides by applying this mechanism.
Because mosquitoes transmit various diseases, control measures are urgently needed, especially in tropical regions. Mosquito habitats are expanding due to global warming, and insecticide-resistant mosquitoes are also emerging.
The research team focused on the antennae of male yellow fever mosquitoes, which are known to transmit dengue fever, Zika fever and other diseases. To successfully mate, males are known to detect the location of females by shaking their antennae to match the frequency of female flight tones. However, the mechanism behind this movement was previously unknown.
After closely examining the auditory organ in the antennae that functions like an ear, researchers discovered that a neurotransmitter called octopamine enters the organ and controls the shaking motion. When this neurotransmitter was artificially removed or deactivated, the antennae could no longer match the frequency of a female's wingbeat.
The team also identified a compound that blocks the function of octopamine. Professor Kamikouchi said, "By mixing the compound into food or spraying it, there is potential to prevent breeding. As global warming increases the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in Japan as well, we hope to develop new mosquito control methods."
The findings were published in the American scientific journal iScience.
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