By Maria Cheng
AP Medical Writer 

Malaria parasite may trigger human odor to lure mosquitoes

 

February 10, 2017



LONDON (AP) — Scientists may have figured out part of the reason why mosquitoes are drawn to people infected with malaria.

Mosquitoes prefer biting people already sickened by malaria, apparently attracted by some kind of odor. Now, Swedish researchers say they've identified a substance pumped out by malaria parasites that triggers that smell, noticeable only to mosquitoes.

"This is a very interesting piece of the puzzle," said Alvaro Acosta Serrano, a parasite researcher at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who was not part of the new study.

It might be possible one day to make synthe...



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