Evolution of mosquito preference for humans linked to an odorant receptor.
Female mosquitoes are major vectors of human disease and the most dangerous are those that preferentially bite humans. A 'domestic' form of the mosquito Aedes aegypti has evolved to specialize in biting humans and is the main worldwide vector of dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses. The domestic form coexists with an ancestral, 'forest' form that prefers to bite non-human animals and is found along the coast of Kenya. We collected the two forms, established laboratory colonies, and document striking divergence in preference for human versus non-human animal odour. We further show that the evolution of preference for human odour in domestic mosquitoes is tightly linked to increases in the expression and ligand-sensitivity of the odorant receptor AaegOr4, which we found recognizes a compound present at high levels in human odour. Our results provide a rare example of a gene contributing to behavioural evolution and provide insight into how disease-vectoring mosquitoes came to specialize on humans.
1] Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA [2] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Carolyn S
CS
McBride
Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Felix
F
Baier
Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 102, Sundsvägen 14, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden.
Aman B
AB
Omondi
Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Sarabeth A
SA
Spitzer
Center for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 54840 - 00200, Off Mbagathi Way, Nairobi, Kenya.
Joel
J
Lutomiah
Center for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 54840 - 00200, Off Mbagathi Way, Nairobi, Kenya.
Rosemary
R
Sang
Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 102, Sundsvägen 14, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden.
Rickard
R
Ignell
1] Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA [2] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Leslie B
LB
Vosshall
D000330:Aedes / Q000502:physiology*; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000378:metabolism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005260:Female; D065928:Forests; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D058507:Host Specificity; D006801:Humans; D007659:Ketones / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
D007659:Ketones; D008024:Ligands; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C029750:methylheptenone