IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v12y2021i1d10.1038_s41467-021-22847-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A dual-target molecular mechanism of pyrethrum repellency against mosquitoes

Author

Listed:
  • Feng Liu

    (Michigan State University)

  • Qiang Wang

    (Michigan State University
    Jiangsu University)

  • Peng Xu

    (Michigan State University)

  • Felipe Andreazza

    (Michigan State University
    Universidade Federal de Viçosa
    Duke University)

  • Wilson R. Valbon

    (Michigan State University
    Universidade Federal de Viçosa
    Duke University)

  • Elizabeth Bandason

    (Michigan State University)

  • Mengli Chen

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Ru Yan

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Bo Feng

    (Michigan State University
    Wenzhou Medical University)

  • Leticia B. Smith

    (Cornell University)

  • Jeffrey G. Scott

    (Cornell University)

  • Genki Takamatsu

    (Kindai University)

  • Makoto Ihara

    (Kindai University)

  • Kazuhiko Matsuda

    (Kindai University)

  • James Klimavicz

    (Iowa State University)

  • Joel Coats

    (Iowa State University)

  • Eugenio E. Oliveira

    (Michigan State University
    Universidade Federal de Viçosa)

  • Yuzhe Du

    (Michigan State University)

  • Ke Dong

    (Michigan State University
    Duke University)

Abstract

Pyrethrum extracts from flower heads of Chrysanthemum spp. have been used worldwide in insecticides and repellents. While the molecular mechanisms of its insecticidal action are known, the molecular basis of pyrethrum repellency remains a mystery. In this study, we find that the principal components of pyrethrum, pyrethrins, and a minor component, (E)-β-farnesene (EBF), each activate a specific type of olfactory receptor neurons in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. We identify Ae. aegypti odorant receptor 31 (AaOr31) as a cognate Or for EBF and find that Or31-mediated repellency is significantly synergized by pyrethrin-induced activation of voltage-gated sodium channels. Thus, pyrethrum exerts spatial repellency through a novel, dual-target mechanism. Elucidation of this two-target mechanism may have potential implications in the design and development of a new generation of synthetic repellents against major mosquito vectors of infectious diseases.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng Liu & Qiang Wang & Peng Xu & Felipe Andreazza & Wilson R. Valbon & Elizabeth Bandason & Mengli Chen & Ru Yan & Bo Feng & Leticia B. Smith & Jeffrey G. Scott & Genki Takamatsu & Makoto Ihara & Kaz, 2021. "A dual-target molecular mechanism of pyrethrum repellency against mosquitoes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-22847-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22847-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22847-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-021-22847-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-22847-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.