Malaria-infected cells produce odors attractive to mosquitoes
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 08:00
in Biology & Nature
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum produces chemical compounds called terpenes that give off odors that attract mosquitoes, according to new research. The study, published this week in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, might explain why the insects are more likely to bite humans or animals infected with the organism.