131 - Developing mosquito bait-and-kill systems for local control of Aedes aegypti and other vector species.

Abstract: Adult mosquitoes possess an innate ability to detect and respond to volatile odor cues emitted by resources in their natural habitats. Amongst the most important cues are plant volatiles that facilitate nectar feeding and potentially direct individuals to suitable microhabitats for sheltering. Although some studies have identified chemical compounds in preferred plant hosts of Aedes aegypti, comparatively less is known about the molecular receptors that underlie plant choice. In the current study, we have utilized a cell expression system to study the activation of Ae. aegypti odorant receptors by a suite of plant-derived compounds. In addition, we have characterized small molecules that significantly reduce the lifespan of adults in sugar-feeding assays. The information we obtain from both areas of investigation can be used to design bait-and-kill trapping systems for local surveillance and control of target species. Moreover, this information establishes a baseline for studies of the chemical ecology of Ae. aegypti and, by extension, chemical detection mechanisms in other vector species for which highly conserved odorant receptors are encoded in their genomes and expressed in chemosensory appendages.