Identification of human skin bacteria attractive to the Asian Tiger mosquito

Environ Microbiol. 2019 Dec;21(12):4662-4674. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.14793. Epub 2019 Sep 12.

Abstract

Aedes albopictus is a vector of arboviruses and filarial nematodes. Originating from Asia, this mosquito has rapidly expanded its geographical distribution and colonized areas across both temperate and tropical regions. Due to the increase in insecticide resistance, the use of environmentally friendly vector control methods is encouraged worldwide. Using methods based on semiochemicals in baited traps are promising for management of mosquito populations. Interestingly, human skin microbiota was shown to generate volatile compounds that attract the mosquito species Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti. Here, we investigated the composition of skin bacteria from different volunteers and the attractive potential of individual isolates to nulliparous Ae. albopictus females. We showed that three out of 16 tested isolates were more attractive and two were more repulsive. We identified dodecenol as being preferentially produced by attractive isolates and 2-methyl-1-butanol (and to a lesser extent 3-methyl-1-butanol) as being overproduced by these isolates compared with the other ones. Those bacterial volatile organic compounds represent promising candidates but further studies are needed to evaluate their potential application for baited traps improvement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aedes / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Anopheles / physiology*
  • Bacteria / chemistry
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insecticide Resistance
  • Male
  • Microbiota
  • Mosquito Vectors / physiology
  • Skin / microbiology*
  • Skin / parasitology*
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / chemistry
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / metabolism

Substances

  • Volatile Organic Compounds