Scientists have uncovered why mosquitoes seem to target some people more than others and it’s not just about luck. New research reveals the surprising role of body odor, skin chemistry, and even your soap in attracting these persistent pests. A prescription drug already used to treat a rare genetic disease in humans could make a person’s blood deadly to malaria-carrying mosquitoes, even those resistant to insecticides. Research found that nitisinone — a chemical used to treat hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1 (too much tyrosine in the blood) — can also kill mosquitoes that merely land on a surface sprayed with the chemical. Nitisinone began as a weed killer, but researchers discovered that it blocked tyrosine, a nonessential amino acid that regulates hormones, and repurposed it as a medication. What’s medicine for some is poison for others. Research showed that mosquitoes that feed on blood from humans taking nitisione die within several hours. The drug blocks enzymes needed to process proteins and amino acids, effectively clogging the mosquitoes' digestive system and resulting in death. The beauty of nitisione is that mosquitoes don’t have to drink it — they absorb it through their feet, so all they have to do is land on it. Scientists are hopeful that in the future, victory over mosquitoes might be as simple as rubbing some nitisinone on window screens or other surfaces where they like to gather.
