Understanding how body odor affects malaria transmission by mosquitoes
Official title: Chemosensory Mechanisms Driving Malaria Transmission
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11049658 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how mosquitoes find people by smelling certain scents we give off, and it will involve volunteers from the Macha region in Zambia to help figure out which body odors attract these pesky bugs and how our skin bacteria might play a role in that.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | November 15, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $707,696 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI182234-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11049658 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in or near the Macha region of Zambia who are willing to participate in scent sampling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients living outside of the Macha region or those who do not have a significant exposure to malaria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, uses its sense of smell to locate humans by detecting specific volatile organic compounds emitted from the human body. The study will recruit participants from the Macha region in Zambia to analyze their body odors and identify which chemical components make them more attractive to mosquitoes. Additionally, the research will explore the role of the skin microbiome in influencing these scent profiles. By employing advanced olfactory preference testing, the project aims to uncover the complex interactions between human scent and mosquito behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for malaria prevention by targeting the olfactory cues that attract mosquitoes to humans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding mosquito attraction to human scents, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcmeniman, Conor James — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mcmeniman, Conor James
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.