The genetic basis of host preference in the biotypes of the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens

Mosquitoes’ ability to find a host for a blood meal is odour-driven, with blends of odorants coming together to form host odour. Which odorants the odorant receptors detect regulates a mosquito’s behaviour towards a potential host, culminating in their host preference. Differences, therefore, in the structure of these odorant receptors that modulate receptor function, be it specificity, i.e., which odorants are detected, or sensitivity, i.e., how much response is elicited, are hypothesised to regulate the host preference of a mosquito. 

In this project we investigate the regulation of host preference by two biotypes of Culex pipiens called Pipiens and Molestus. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating host preference in Cx. pipiens. This project aims to provide novel insights into the genetic basis of host preference of the two biotypes by identifying and characterising the behaviour of laboratory and wild European populations, and by studying the differences in expression and function of antennal chemosensory genes correlated with the observed behaviour. This project is expected to expand our understanding of the genetic mechanisms regulating host preference in the Cx. pipiens biotypes.