Understanding how mosquitoes taste
Official title: Molecular genetics of gustatory detection
Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-11125789 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand how mosquitoes taste their food and detect humans, which could help us find new ways to control them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Barbara NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2006 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $421,567 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC007864-20 |
| Project ID | NIH-11125789 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients concerned about mosquito-borne diseases may find this foundational research relevant to future prevention methods.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking direct medical treatment or immediate clinical trial opportunities will not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Insects like mosquitoes spread serious diseases to millions of people each year. This project explores the sense of taste in insects, starting with fruit flies and then moving to mosquitoes. Researchers will use various methods, including studying brain activity and behavior, to learn how insects detect different flavors like fatty acids, amino acids, and acids. The goal is to uncover the specific receptors and brain pathways that allow mosquitoes to decide what to eat and whether to bite a human.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to control mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects, ultimately reducing the spread of deadly viruses and parasites.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on existing tools for insect biology, but the specific focus on fatty acid, amino acid, and acid taste in mosquitoes represents a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Montell, Craig — University of California Santa Barbara
- Study coordinator: Montell, Craig
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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.