The sound of a mosquito can mean trouble in many parts of the world.
The
sound
of
a
mosquito
can
mean
trouble
in
many
parts
of
the
world
.
The bite of the mosquito can be deadly.
The
bite
of
the
mosquito
can
be
deadly
.
The insects carry serious diseases like malaria.
The
insects
carry
serious
diseases
like
malaria
.
It is estimated that almost 630,000 people died from malaria and malariarelated causes in 2012, and most of these cases were in African countries.
It
is
estimated
that
almost
630,000
people
died
from
malaria
and
malariarelated
causes
in
2012
,
and
most
of
these
cases
were
in
African
countries
.
In the United States, a group of California scientists are working to develop a more effective and less costly substance to protect people from mosquitoes.
In
the
United
States
,
a
group
of
California
scientists
are
working
to
develop
a
more
effective
and
less
costly
substance
to
protect
people
from
mosquitoes
.
The researchers are investigating the sense of smell in mosquitoes.
The
researchers
are
investigating
the
sense
of
smell
in
mosquitoes
.
They found the insects use the same receptor for identifying carbon dioxide in human breath as they do for the smell of our skin.
They
found
the
insects
use
the
same
receptor
for
identifying
carbon
dioxide
in
human
breath
as
they
do
for
the
smell
of
our
skin
.
Anandasankar Ray, who is leading the investigation, says scientists tested more than a million chemical compounds until they found a substance called Ethyl Pyruvate.
Anandasankar
Ray
,
who
is
leading
the
investigation
,
says
scientists
tested
more
than
a
million
chemical
compounds
until
they
found
a
substance
called
Ethyl
Pyruvate
.
He says Ethyl Pyruvate makes the mosquitoes' receptors inactive.
He
says
Ethyl
Pyruvate
makes
the
mosquitoes
'
receptors
inactive
.
"When we apply Ethyl Pyruvate to a human arm and offer it to hungry mosquitoes in a cage, very few of the mosquitoes are attracted to the human arm because only a few of them are able to smell it out," said Ray.
``
When
we
apply
Ethyl
Pyruvate
to
a
human
arm
and
offer
it
to
hungry
mosquitoes
in
a
cage
,
very
few
of
the
mosquitoes
are
attracted
to
the
human
arm
because
only
a
few
of
them
are
able
to
smell
it
out
,
''
said
Ray
.
Genevieve Tauxe, a member of the research team, says it was not easy to find the neurons of noble cells that recognize both the smell of human breath and skin.
Genevieve
Tauxe
,
a
member
of
the
research
team
,
says
it
was
not
easy
to
find
the
neurons
of
noble
cells
that
recognize
both
the
smell
of
human
breath
and
skin
.
"With the device used to examine the mosquito, we are able to insert a very small electrode into the part of the mosquito's nose, where its smelling neurons are and where the smell is happening," said Tauxe.
``
With
the
device
used
to
examine
the
mosquito
,
we
are
able
to
insert
a
very
small
electrode
into
the
part
of
the
mosquito
's
nose
,
where
its
smelling
neurons
are
and
where
the
smell
is
happening
,
''
said
Tauxe
.
Anandasankar Ray says a product based on Ethyl Pyruvate may cost less to produce than DEFT, the most effective chemical treatment now in use.
Anandasankar
Ray
says
a
product
based
on
Ethyl
Pyruvate
may
cost
less
to
produce
than
DEFT
,
the
most
effective
chemical
treatment
now
in
use
.
He says DEFT is too costly for most people who live in areas affected by malaria.
He
says
DEFT
is
too
costly
for
most
people
who
live
in
areas
affected
by
malaria
.
"Perhaps by finding smells that can attack other target receptors, we will be able to improve upon DEFT and finally have the next generation of insect behaviour control products," said Ray.
``
Perhaps
by
finding
smells
that
can
attack
other
target
receptors
,
we
will
be
able
to
improve
upon
DEFT
and
finally
have
the
next
generation
of
insect
behaviour
control
products
,
''
said
Ray
.
The sound of a mosquito can mean trouble in many parts of the world. The bite of the mosquito can be deadly. The insects carry serious diseases like malaria. It is estimated that almost 630,000 people died from malaria and malariarelated causes in 2012, and most of these cases were in African countries.  In the United States, a group of California scientists are working to develop a more effective and less costly substance to protect people from mosquitoes. The researchers are investigating the sense of smell in mosquitoes. They found the insects use the same receptor for identifying carbon dioxide in human breath as they do for the smell of our skin. Anandasankar Ray, who is leading the investigation, says scientists tested more than a million chemical compounds until they found a substance called Ethyl Pyruvate. He says Ethyl Pyruvate makes the mosquitoes' receptors inactive. "When we apply Ethyl Pyruvate to a human arm and offer it to hungry mosquitoes in a cage, very few of the mosquitoes are attracted to the human arm because only a few of them are able to smell it out," said Ray.  Genevieve Tauxe, a member of the research team, says it was not easy to find the neurons of noble cells that recognize both the smell of human breath and skin. "With the device used to examine the mosquito, we are able to insert a very small electrode into the part of the mosquito's nose, where its smelling neurons are and where the smell is happening," said Tauxe.  Anandasankar Ray says a product based on Ethyl Pyruvate may cost less to produce than DEFT, the most effective chemical treatment now in use. He says DEFT is too costly for most people who live in areas affected by malaria.  "Perhaps by finding smells that can attack other target receptors, we will be able to improve upon DEFT and finally have the next generation of insect behaviour control products," said Ray.