Evolution of mosquito preference for humans

Female mosquitoes are major vectors of human disease and the most dangerous are those that preferentially bite humans. Understanding the genetic causes and effects of host choice in sympatric, closely related species is challenging, controversial and of significant practical importance for controlling these rapidly evolving vectors. 

Host selection and discrimination by mosquitoes are mainly odor mediated, and the purpose of this study is to describe the genetic mechanism that links the basic molecular building blocks of the peripheral olfactory system, the odorant receptors, with the ‘inherent’ host preference displayed by sibling malaria mosquito species. We aim to identify the genetic changes that result in minor structural differences that change odorant receptor and receptor neuron response to host odors among three sibling species of malaria mosquitoes that display different preferences for humans as a host. To investigate the mechanism underlying such functional changes in the receptors, we aim to systematically mutate each relevant polymorphism, then assess responses to host odors at the receptor level. Beyond this we aim at extending the work to the receptor neuron and behavioral levels.

This project builds on a strong foundation of extant behavioral, electrophysiological and molecular data on this system, which combined has the potential to unravel the molecular genetic basis of an important evolutionary shift in insect