Semiochemical signatures associated with differential attraction of Anopheles gambiae to human feet

Abstract

These results suggest that differential attractiveness of An. gambiae to human feet is due to qualitative and/or qualitative differences in the chemical compositions of the foot odors from individual human beings and relative proportions of the two chemical signatures (attractants versus repellents) as observed from the ratios of the bioactive components in the foot odors of the most attractive and least attractive individuals. Chemical signature means the ensemble of the compounds released by the organism in a specific physiological state. The chemical signature is emitter-dependent, but does not depend on receiver response. Thus, there is only one chemical signature for one individual or species that may eventually include inactive, attractive and repellent components for another organism. The nine-component attractive blend has a potential as an effective field bait for trapping of malaria vectors in human dwellings.