Evolution of mosquito preference for humans linked to an odorant receptor

Carolyn S. McBride, Felix Baier, Aman B. Omondi, Sarabeth A. Spitzer, Joel Lutomiah, Rosemary Sang, Rickard Ignell and Leslie B. Vosshall ()
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Carolyn S. McBride: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University
Felix Baier: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University
Aman B. Omondi: Unit of Chemical Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 102, Sundsvägen 14, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden
Sarabeth A. Spitzer: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University
Joel Lutomiah: Center for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 54840 – 00200, Off Mbagathi Way, Nairobi, Kenya
Rosemary Sang: Center for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 54840 – 00200, Off Mbagathi Way, Nairobi, Kenya
Rickard Ignell: Unit of Chemical Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 102, Sundsvägen 14, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden
Leslie B. Vosshall: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University

Nature, 2014, vol. 515, issue 7526, 222-227

Abstract: Abstract 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.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/nature13964

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