Skip to main content

A dual-target molecular mechanism of pyrethrum repellency against mosquitoes.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Liu, F; Wang, Q; Xu, P; Andreazza, F; Valbon, WR; Bandason, E; Chen, M; Yan, R; Feng, B; Smith, LB; Scott, JG; Takamatsu, G; Ihara, M; Du, Y ...
Published in: Nature communications
May 2021

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.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Nature communications

DOI

EISSN

2041-1723

ISSN

2041-1723

Publication Date

May 2021

Volume

12

Issue

1

Start / End Page

2553

Related Subject Headings

  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels
  • Receptors, Odorant
  • Pyrethrins
  • Neurons
  • Mosquito Vectors
  • Mosquito Control
  • Insecticides
  • Insect Repellents
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Culicidae
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Liu, F., Wang, Q., Xu, P., Andreazza, F., Valbon, W. R., Bandason, E., … Dong, K. (2021). A dual-target molecular mechanism of pyrethrum repellency against mosquitoes. Nature Communications, 12(1), 2553. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22847-0
Liu, Feng, Qiang Wang, Peng Xu, Felipe Andreazza, Wilson R. Valbon, Elizabeth Bandason, Mengli Chen, et al. “A dual-target molecular mechanism of pyrethrum repellency against mosquitoes.Nature Communications 12, no. 1 (May 2021): 2553. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22847-0.
Liu F, Wang Q, Xu P, Andreazza F, Valbon WR, Bandason E, et al. A dual-target molecular mechanism of pyrethrum repellency against mosquitoes. Nature communications. 2021 May;12(1):2553.
Liu, Feng, et al. “A dual-target molecular mechanism of pyrethrum repellency against mosquitoes.Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, May 2021, p. 2553. Epmc, doi:10.1038/s41467-021-22847-0.
Liu F, Wang Q, Xu P, Andreazza F, Valbon WR, Bandason E, Chen M, Yan R, Feng B, Smith LB, Scott JG, Takamatsu G, Ihara M, Matsuda K, Klimavicz J, Coats J, Oliveira EE, Du Y, Dong K. A dual-target molecular mechanism of pyrethrum repellency against mosquitoes. Nature communications. 2021 May;12(1):2553.

Published In

Nature communications

DOI

EISSN

2041-1723

ISSN

2041-1723

Publication Date

May 2021

Volume

12

Issue

1

Start / End Page

2553

Related Subject Headings

  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels
  • Receptors, Odorant
  • Pyrethrins
  • Neurons
  • Mosquito Vectors
  • Mosquito Control
  • Insecticides
  • Insect Repellents
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Culicidae