Malaria Altering Host Attractiveness and Mosquito Feeding.
Several studies have suggested that malaria parasites stack the odds of transmission in their favour by manipulating the attraction profiles of their hosts. A recent study provides evidence that a specific parasite factor, (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate, may increase both the attractiveness of infected vertebrates and the susceptibility of mosquitoes to infection.
Grand Challenges in Ecosystems and Environment, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, UK. Electronic address: l.cator@imperial.ac.uk.
Lauren
L
Cator
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology*