Florencia Fernandez-Chiappe, Ph.D.

Research

In the Younger lab, I will assess how the unusual structure of the mosquito olfactory system allows it to detect humans’ signature scent. Mosquitoes rely on their finely tuned sense of smell to find humans on which to feed. In other organisms, the neurons that form this system are each tuned to recognize a single type of odor; however, Dr. Meg Younger has discovered that mosquito olfactory neurons contain more than one type of smell receptor, an organization that could enable them to respond to more complex aromatic bouquets. In this project, I will use in vivo electrophysiology to record activity of individual neurons in the mosquito Aedes aegypti antenna and brain, to assess how the activity of multiple olfactory receptors and their downstream neurons interact to detect the distinct smell of humans. In particular, I will assess whether the cells will respond to individual odors—or whether they are activated only when exposed to a blend of scents that signifies the presence of people among other organisms. My work could lead to novel strategies for limiting the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, yellow fever, and Zika.