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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #254960
Title: Compounds that Inhibit Insect Host-Seeking Ability

Author
item Bernier, Ulrich

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2009
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: N/A.

Technical Abstract: Humans release hundreds of volatile compounds from their skin. Some of these compounds are used by mosquitoes and other insects to locate the host (kairomones) while a few compounds are found in trace amounts that tend to produce anosmia in these insects. The net result of this anosmic action on the target is a masking effect of the attractive human odors. This presentation will cover human skin chemistry—the chemical identification of the odor constituents and the bioassays used to determine their role. A class of nitrogen-containing heterocycles will be presented, including information on the chemical structure leads to this anosmic effect observed in bioassays with insects.