Tweaking the microbes that populate our skin may be an effective strategy to deter mosquitoes from biting us and thus curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, a new study hints.
Scientists previously knew that mosquitoes sniff out humans to bite by zeroing in on our unique scents, including chemicals released by oil and sweat glands in the skin. Sweat glands also release different molecules that skin microbes then break down to use as nutrients; the metabolism of these nutrients releases small molecules with specific odors, which can then attract mosquitoes.
