The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
Undernourished mice are more attractive to multiple mosquito vectors, linked to higher volatile aldehyde emissions from skin microbiota changes and impaired antimicrobial fatty acid secretion.
- Why it matters: Undernutrition is common in regions with mosquito-borne diseases, yet its role in shaping mosquito attraction and pathogen transmission is unclear.
- What they did: The study tested undernourished mice and found reduced antimicrobial fatty acid secretion from dermal sebaceous glands, increased proliferation of skin commensal bacteria, and aldehydes that attract mosquitoes; it also assessed dengue virus (DENV) transmission and compared findings with undernourished human subjects.
- The result: Undernourished mice were more susceptible to mosquito-borne pathogens, facilitating DENV transmission to and from mosquitoes, and undernourished humans showed similar microbiota shifts, elevated aldehyde emissions, and increased mosquito attraction.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.