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Bugs of all shapes and sizes, beware! Scientists have discovered a new kind of insect repellent that could make the stuff we now use seem about as effective as sugar water.
A new study -- published this week in the online journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -- set out to find new ways to control the spread of malaria by messing with a mosquito's sense of smell.
"(The compound) could overwhelm the insect's sense of smell, creating a repellent effect akin to stepping onto an elevator with someone wearing too much perfume, except this would be far worse for the mosquito," said Patrick Jones
Researchers at Vanderbilt University learned that by stimulating a particular part of the mosquito's olfactory system with a specific molecule, they could overload all its odor receptors at once -- effectively botching the bug's quest for new blood.
But let's break it down, shall we?
According to Discover magazine, in the human olfactory system (which is basically the sensory system that allows us to smell), scent molecules stick to a specific receptor that -- with some help from the brain -- identifies what smell you happen to be sniffing.
Mosquitoes are a little different though. When the scent molecule binds to its special receptor, that receptor binds to another receptor -- which then identifies the smell. An extra step, if you will.
Now, let's get back to that molecular compound discovered in the study. When applied to the mosquito's olfactory system, it jams that second set of receptors, or co-receptors -- making it impossible for the insect to smell much of anything. And since it's the smell of our blood that is most alluring to mosquitoes, they wouldn't have any reason (or tracking device) to hunt us down for dinner.
"If a compound like VUAA1 can activate every mosquito odorant receptor at once, then it could overwhelm the insect's sense of smell, creating a repellent effect akin to stepping onto an elevator with someone wearing too much perfume, except this would be far worse for the mosquito," said Patrick Jones, a Vanderbilt post-doctoral fellow who conducted the study, in a press release.
Scientists say this "uber-repellent" molecule is thousands of times more effective than DEET -- the ingredient used in most mosquito repellents -- and protects against all kinds of insects. Flies, moths and ants are no match for its powers.
It's too soon to tell whether this new repellent is safe to be added to products sold in stores, but researchers say it can at least be used as a prototype for other repellents with similar benefits. And since it works against all insects, it could eventually be used to prevent the spread of diseases, crop destruction and, of course, unwanted visitors at your backyard barbecue.
Doesn't that prospect leave you itching with excitement?
The tests were all part of a larger project funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Email: jrogers@ksl.com
