Science：疟原虫触发人体产生吸引蚊子的气味

A key malaria metabolite modulates vector blood seeking, feeding, and susceptibility to infection

科学家可能发现了疟疾感染者招引蚊子的部分原因。疟疾是经蚊子叮咬或输入带疟原虫者的血液而感染疟原虫所引起的虫媒传染病。寄生于人体的疟原虫共有四种。即问日疟原虫。三日疟原虫。恶性疟原虫和卵形疟原虫。蚊子喜欢叮咬已感染上疟疾的人，而且明显是由某种气味引起的。如今，在一项新的研究中，瑞典研究人员说，他们鉴定出疟原虫分泌出的一种物质触发人体产生这种气味，而且这种气味仅为蚊子所察觉到。相关研究结果在线发表在Science期刊上。

People infected by malaria become more attractive to the mosquito vectors of the disease, which facilitates the spread of malaria. Emami et al. found that red blood cells of the host respond to a parasite-derived isoprenoid called HMBPP by increasing the production of carbon dioxide and several monoterpenes and aldehydes. Mosquitoes fed HMBPP-spiked blood displayed malaria parasite-specific changes in gene transcription, which reinforced attractiveness for the mosquito. HMBPP also stimulates mosquito feeding and malaria parasite reproduction. Thus, the parasite manipulates its mammalian host to make it more attractive to the insect vectors and exploits the same molecule to amplify transmission.