Understanding the Effects of Host Evolution and Skin Bacteria Composition on Disease Vector Choices

Abstract : Here we sought to understand how host biology influences the composition of skin microbes, how skin microbes influence volatiles on the skin and, in turn how skin volatiles and microbe composition influence the attractiveness of the skin to mosquitoes. Our specific aims were to sample humans and other hosts for skin microbes and volatiles. We then sequenced those samples to identify the microbes present. Our next steps are threefold. We consider how host genes influence skin microbes. We consider how microbe composition influences metabolic attributes of microbial communities (including their attractiveness to mosquitoes). Finally, we will integrate all of our types of data to lin host attributes to skin microbe composition, skin microbe composition to volatiles, and volatiles and skin microbe composition to attractiveness to mosquitoes. In doing so, a key focus will be on identifying the microbes and/or their volatiles that are most attractive to or repulsive to mosquitoes.