Spanish to English translation
Discovered by chance a "super repellent" for all kinds of insects
It is a thousand times more effective than those that exist today and it works equally well for ants, flies and moths
JOS? MANUEL NIEVES / MADRID
Day 11/05/2011 - 9:27 a.m.
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The researchers investigated the repellent when on malaria
As often happens in Science, has been by chance. A team of researchers at Vanderbilt University in the U.S., has accidentally discovered a new class of insect repellent that is thousands of times more efficient than most existing products. The study is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The scientists, led by biologist Laurence Zwiebel, found that, in addition, the repellent works equally well against mosquitoes flies, moths or ants . That is, it is effective against all kinds of insects. "Not that we were looking for that," says David Rinker, a student who participated in the experiments, "this is an anomaly that we noticed during testing."
The research, in fact, had a very different purpose: to seek new methods to contain the spread of malaria. In particular, we tried to find a method capable of disrupting the mosquitoes' sense of smell, a sense that plays an important role in spread of the disease.
The researchers caution that it is too early to determine whether this compound may act as a basis for a commercial product. However, they stress, is the first of its kind and could be used for developing similar compounds that have the characteristics necessary for sale to the general public.
The discovery is a result of new knowledge that biologists have acquired about how does the smell of insects . A very different from mammals.
Different smell
On nerve cells in the nose of mammals (and on the antennae of mosquitoes) there is a series of proteins called odorant receptors (RO). When these receptors are placed in contact with odorant molecules activate the nerves that signal the detection of specific odors. Until recently it was thought that, despite the obvious differences, the olfactory function the same way in insects and mammals at the molecular level. However, the reality is very different.
In insects the ROs do not act independently, but form a complex with a single co-receptor, called chorus is also necessary for the detection of odorous molecules. The ROs are scattered on the surface of the antennas and each serves a different odor. However, to function, each RO must be connected to a specific choir.
"Each RO is like a microphone that can detect a single frequency," says Zwiebel. On their antennae, the mosquito has dozens of these "microphones" tuned to detect a specific frequency. "When you smell the mosquito, the microphone tuned to the scent turns his choir," says the researcher.
"The mics - still - still dull, but the chorus can directly stimulate all alight once and it overloads the mosquito's sense of smell, reducing their ability to find blood."
The final repellent
Given the difficulty of determining what chemicals may be capable of modulating the RO and choir, the researchers turned to the laboratory at Vanderbilt. There were numerous and extensive tests, but finally managed to find the first molecule capable of directly stimulating the olfactory co-receptor. VUAA1 baptized.
Now just trying to use the incredible ability of this molecule and convert it into a product that can reach the shops. The scientists have already contacted several companies interested in developing what could be the final repellent against all insects. Something that humanity will thank you forever.
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