Odorant receptors for floral- and plant-derived volatiles in the yellow fever mosquito,Aedes aegypti(Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Adult mosquitoes require regular sugar meals, usually in the form of floral nectar, to survive in natural habitats. Both males and females locate potential sugar sources using sensory proteins called odorant receptors, that are activated by plant volatiles and facilitate orientation toward flowers or honeydew. The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762), possesses a large gene family of odorant receptors, many of which are likely to be involved in floral odor detection. Using a heterologous expression system and a technique called two-electrode voltage clamping, we are able to identify environmentally relevant chemical cues that produce responses in specific odorant receptors. In this study, we have uncovered ligand-receptor pairings for a suite Aedes aegypti receptors that are likely to mediate appetitive or aversive behavioral responses. This information can be used to assess mosquito foraging behavior and develop novel control strategies, especially those that incorporate mosquito bait-and-kill technologies.