![]() ![]() Unfortunately, we have not yet worked out how to manipulate the skin microbiota to harness these beneficial effects, but the study authors believe their findings may give some pointers. Human sweat, for example, is completely odorless until bacteria get to work on it.Īll these skin bacteria convert compounds in our sweat and sebum into volatile compounds, some of which attract and some of which repel mosquitoes.Īnd, according to the above study, some skin microbiota appears to give off compounds that make people less attractive to mosquitoes and thus function as an in-built defense system. These useful microbes also affect the chemicals we give off. But the products you use to clean and moisturise it can also have an effect, so perhaps avoid the antibacterial soaps if you want to try and keep the bugs from biting. Our skin microbiota is influenced by our genetics, age, and immune system, something we cannot really do much about. The greater the number of bacteria on the feet, the more attractive they were to the mosquitoes.īut, the study concluded, “ndividuals with a higher microbial diversity are less attractive to mosquitoes and may therefore receive fewer bites.” They found that nine of the men were highly attractive to mosquitoes, seven were poorly attractive, with the rest somewhere in-between.Īnd was the microbiota having an effect? Apparently so. First they tested the skin microbiota of 48 men before using glass beads that had been rolled on the men’s feet as bait in mosquito traps. One study investigated this with Anopheles gambiae, a malaria-carrying species. But does the composition of your skin microbiota determine whether we are likely to get bitten or not? ![]() We are covered in millions of bacteria - the skin microbiota - which are vital for keeping our skin healthy. And people produce thousands of different chemicals, so working out which ones are affecting mosquitoes’ behavior is far from easy. Overall, the studies suggest that pregnant women, people with high body temperature and sweat, diverse skin microbe presence, and those with darker skin could be more susceptible.”īut the answer is not straightforward - chemicals that attract some mosquito species have been shown to repel others. These studies have discussed body odor, body color, skin temperature and texture, microbes living on the skin, pregnancy status, carbon dioxide exhaled by humans, alcohol, and diet type. “The reasons for mosquitoes being attracted to humans have been discussed in a few studies. Jagdish Khubchandani, professor of public health at New Mexico State University, told Medical News Today that: How often have you come home from an evening barbecue or camping trip covered in mosquito bites to find that others on the same outing have not been bitten at all? What is it that makes mosquitoes feast on some people while, apparently, ignoring others?ĭr. Scratching the itch may lead to infection and, for a very few people, an allergic reaction that could result in anaphylactic shock. The itching and swelling from a bite can last for several days. From the malaria parasite transmitted by the Anopheles species to the viruses that cause yellow fever and dengue, mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of many of our greatest killers.Įven if you live somewhere where a bite carries no risk of disease, the high-pitched whine of a mosquito is an unwelcome noise. In many countries, a mosquito bite is more than just an annoyance. To get it, they pierce the skin of their chosen host using their needle-like proboscis - resulting in a bite that may itch, swell, and even cause serious disease. And it is only female mosquitoes that bite - they need blood as a source of protein for their eggs. ![]() There are more than 3,500 types of mosquitoes, only some of which bite people. ![]() Share on Pinterest Why do some people always seem to fall victim to mosquito bites? Image credit: LWA/Getty Images. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |