Seminar · Neuroscience
A robust neural code for human odor in the Aedes aegpyti mosquito brain
Lindy McBride · Princeton University
Wed, Jul 22, 2020 · 06:00 UTC
A globally invasive form of the mosquito Aedes aegypti has evolved to specialize in biting humans, making it an efficient vector of dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya. Host-seeking females identify humans primarily by smell, strongly preferring human odour over the odor of non-human animals. Exactly how they discriminate, however, is unclear. Human and animal odors are complex blends that share most of the same chemical components, presenting an interesting challenge in sensory coding. I will talk about recent work from the lab showing that (1) human and animal blends can be distingui