Behavioral responses of Rhodnius prolixus to volatile organic compounds released in vitro by bacteria isolated from human facial skin

Tabares, Marcela; Ortiz, Mario I.; González, Mabel; Carazzone, Chiara; Vives, Martha J.; Molina, Jorge

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0006423

Cited by 14 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…The fact that R. prolixus is attracted by some VOCs released by some common bacteria of the human face skin, as Tabares and collaborators [39] showed, could be related to the close vertebrate-vector coevolutive history. However, the response of the bugs to the VOCs produced by C. koseri could make sense if the natural occurrence of the bacterium is considered: C. koseri is a gram-negative bacillus of the Enterobacteriaceae family, found in animal intestines, soils, water, sewage and contaminated food, and widely recognized for causing devastating meningitis in neonates and severe infections in immunosuppressed patients [44].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, previous studies carried out in our laboratory have demonstrated the role that VOCs released by human facial skin microbiota play in the host-seeking behavior of R. prolixus [39–41]. Tabares and collaborators [39] showed, in dual choice olfactometer experiments, that VOCs produced in vitro by some skin bacteria (at specific growth phases) had an attractive effect on R. prolixus . The authors also reported odor-source avoidance when some other bacteria VOCs were presented, such as those produced by Citrobacter koseri (Enterobacteriaceae).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…For example, VOCs produced by skin bacteria are important cues for the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae in identifying hosts as human and confer specificity to certain body regions on which mosquitos tend to bite more [33–38]. Moreover, previous studies carried out in our laboratory have demonstrated the role that VOCs released by human facial skin microbiota play in the host-seeking behavior of R. prolixus [39–41]. Tabares and collaborators [39] showed, in dual choice olfactometer experiments, that VOCs produced in vitro by some skin bacteria (at specific growth phases) had an attractive effect on R. prolixus .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Insects consistently chose the negative control (i.e., culture medium without bacteria) over the culture medium with bacteria VOCs. These two findings, the attractive and avoidance behavioral effects, contrasted with those from other bacterial VOCs to which R. prolixus did not respond at all [39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the behavioral response of triatomines to the mix of VOCs produced by the skin microbiota seems to be very complex [39]. Moreover, the role of individual bacterial volatiles from mixtures in evoking avoidance is still unknown, and their potential use as repellents deserves further investigation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Novel repellents for the blood-sucking insectsRhodnius prolixusandTriatoma infestans, vectors of Chagas disease

Ramírez

Ortiz

Guerenstein

et al. 2019

Preprint

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24 25 Background: Studying the behavioral response of blood-sucking, disease-vector insects to 26 potentially repellent volatile compounds could shed light on the development of new 27 control strategies. Volatiles released by human facial skin microbiota play different roles in 28 the host-seeking behavior of triatomines. We assessed the repellency effect of such 29 compounds of bacterial origin on Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius prolixus, two important 30 vectors of Chagas disease in Latin America. 31 Methods: Using an exposure device, insects were presented to human odor alone (negative 32 control) and in the presence of three individual tested compounds (2-mercaptoethanol, 33 dimethyl sulfide and 2-phenylethanol, which was only tested in R. prolixus) and the gold-34 standard repellent NN-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide-DEET (positive control). We quantified 35 the time the insects spent in the proximity of the host and performed nonparametric 36 statistical tests to determine if any of the compounds evaluated affected the behavior of the 37 insect. 38Results: We found volatiles that significantly reduced the time spent in the proximity of the 39 host. These were 2-phenylethanol and 2-mercaptoethanol for R. prolixus, and dimethyl 40 sulfide and 2-mercaptoethanol for T. infestans. Such an effect was also observed in both 41 species when DEET was presented, although only at the higher doses tested. 42 Conclusions:The new repellents modulated the behavior of two Chagas disease vectors 43 belonging to two different triatomine tribes, and this was achieved using a dose up to three 44 orders of magnitude lower than that needed to evoke the same effect with DEET. Future 45 efforts in understanding deeply the mechanism of action of repellent compounds such as 2-46 3 mercaptoethanol, as well as an assessment of their temporal and spatial repellent properties, 47 could lead to the development of novel control strategies for insect vectors refractory to 48 DEET. 49

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Novel repellents for the blood-sucking insectsRhodnius prolixusandTriatoma infestans, vectors of Chagas disease

Ramírez

Ortiz

Guerenstein

et al. 2019

Preprint

Self Cite

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The Behaviour of Kissing Bugs

Lazzari

2021

Entomology in Focus

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Learning about microbial language: possible interactions mediated by microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and relevance to understanding Malassezia spp. metabolism

et al. 2021

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Background Microorganisms synthesize and release a large diversity of small molecules like volatile compounds, which allow them to relate and interact with their environment. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based compounds with low molecular weight and generally, high vapor pressure; because of their nature, they spread easily in the environment. Little is known about the role of VOCs in the interaction processes, and less is known about VOCs produced by Malassezia, a genus of yeasts that belongs to the human skin mycobiota. These yeasts have been associated with several dermatological diseases and currently, they are considered as emerging opportunistic yeasts. Research about secondary metabolites of these yeasts is limited. The pathogenic role and the molecular mechanisms involved in the infection processes of this genus are yet to be clarified. VOCs produced by Malassezia yeasts could play an important function in their metabolism; in addition, they might be involved in either beneficial or pathogenic host-interaction processes. Since these yeasts present differences in their nutritional requirements, like lipids to grow, it is possible that these variations of growth requirements also define differences in the volatile organic compounds produced in Malassezia species. Aim of review We present a mini review about VOCs produced by microorganisms and Malassezia species, and hypothesize about their role in its metabolism, which would reveal clues about host-pathogen interaction. Key scientific concepts of review Since living organisms inhabit a similar environment, the interaction processes occur naturally; as a result, a signal and a response from participants of these processes become important in understanding several biological behaviors. The efforts to elucidate how living organisms interact has been studied from several perspectives. An important issue is that VOCs released by the microbiota plays a key role in the setup of relationships between living micro and macro organisms. The challenge is to determine what is the role of these VOCs produced by human microbiota in commensal/pathogenic scenarios, and how these allow understanding the species metabolism. Malassezia is part of the human mycobiota, and it is implicated in commensal and pathogenic processes. It is possible that their VOCs are involved in these behavioral changes, but the knowledge about this remains overlocked. For this reason, VOCs produced by microorganisms and Malassezia spp. and their role in several biological processes are the main topic in this review.

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Behavioral responses of Rhodnius prolixus to volatile organic compounds released in vitro by bacteria isolated from human facial skin

Cited by 14 publications

References 34 publications

Novel repellents for the blood-sucking insectsRhodnius prolixusandTriatoma infestans, vectors of Chagas disease

Novel repellents for the blood-sucking insectsRhodnius prolixusandTriatoma infestans, vectors of Chagas disease

The Behaviour of Kissing Bugs

Learning about microbial language: possible interactions mediated by microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and relevance to understanding Malassezia spp. metabolism

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