Logan James G, Birkett Michael A, Clark Suzanne J, Powers Stephen, Seal Nicola J, Wadhams Lester J, Mordue Luntz A Jennifer, Pickett John A
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK.
J Chem Ecol. 2008 Mar;34(3):308-22. doi: 10.1007/s10886-008-9436-0. Epub 2008 Feb 29.
It is known that human individuals show different levels of attractiveness to mosquitoes. In this study, we investigated the chemical basis for low attractiveness. We recorded behaviors of Aedes aegypti toward the hands of human volunteers and toward the volatile chemicals produced by their bodies. Some individuals, and their corresponding volatiles, elicited low upwind flight, relative attraction, and probing activity. Analyzing the components by gas chromatography coupled to electrophysiological recordings from the antennae of Aedes aegypti, enabled the location of 33 physiologically relevant compounds. The results indicated that higher levels of specific compounds may be responsible for decreased "attractiveness." In behavioral experiments, five of the compounds caused a significant reduction in upwind flight of Aedes aegypti to attractive human hands. Thus, unattractiveness of individuals may result from a repellent, or attractant "masking," mechanism.
众所周知，人类个体对蚊子的吸引力存在不同程度的差异。在本研究中，我们调查了低吸引力的化学基础。我们记录了埃及伊蚊对人类志愿者手部及其身体产生的挥发性化学物质的行为反应。一些个体及其相应的挥发物引发了较低的逆风飞行、相对吸引力和刺探活动。通过气相色谱与埃及伊蚊触角的电生理记录相结合来分析成分，确定了33种生理相关化合物的位置。结果表明，特定化合物的较高含量可能是导致“吸引力”降低的原因。在行为实验中，其中五种化合物导致埃及伊蚊对有吸引力的人类手部的逆风飞行显著减少。因此，个体的低吸引力可能是由驱避或引诱“掩盖”机制导致的。
