Skin microbiome can be used as a mosquito repellent – scientists

A new study has shown that modifying the skin's microbiome can help to repel mosquitoes and thus curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

Scientists at the University of California, San Diego, have found that certain chemicals produced by the skin microbiome can repel Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika, Live Science reports.

The researchers also confirmed that mosquitoes are strongly attracted to lactic acid produced by bacteria.

Based on these findings, the authors suggest that the skin microbiome can be altered to stop producing chemicals that attract or produce chemicals that repel.

They also suggest that altering the skin microbiome to somehow produce less lactic acid could help prevent mosquito bites and subsequently reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

The team has already published new results that support this hypothesis.

The next steps will include testing the safety of applying these engineered bacteria to the skin of a mouse and seeing if it repels other mosquito species besides A. aegypti.

After that, the researchers hope to eventually move on to human trials of a similar treatment.

This new approach may be safer than using synthetic mosquito repellents, which can wear off after a few hours and cause skin irritation.

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