Using genetics to make a life-saving perfume

Dr. DeGennaro explains the lab’s approach to understanding mosquito behavior to create attractants & repellents.

A gene mosquitoes use to detect human sweat

Raji et al. (2019) discovered an antennal co-receptor, Ir8a, that mosquitoes need in order to detect odors in human sweat. Without this gene, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have reduced attraction to human hosts. This video summarizes the key findings of the study and presents the diverse group of scientists assembled by Dr. Matthew DeGennaro that made this publication possible.

Mutant Mosquitoes Hold the Key to a Life-saving Perfume

Cnidarians

 Cassiopea collected in the Florida Keys