Geneticists close in on how mosquitoes sniff out human sweat

A protein in the antennae of Aedes aegypti detects lactic acid wafting off skin

mosquito

SCENT OF A HUMAN  Geneticists have figured out one of the proteins that an Aedes aegypti mosquito (shown) needs to sniff that fascinating lactic acid from human sweat. 

Alex Wild

Geneticists have found a scent-sniffer protein molecule in mosquito antennae that — if somehow jammed — might leave a bloodsucker confused about whether we’re human enough to bite.