A research team from the national science research institute Riken and the Jikei University School of Medicine in Japan has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the feeding behavior of yellow fever mosquitoes. In their latest study, the team found that these mosquitoes have the ability to detect a substance produced when their host's blood coagulates, allowing them to know when it is safe to strike and escape without being detected. This discovery holds great potential for developing innovative approaches to mitigate mosquito bites and reduce mosquito-borne infections.

The substance identified by the researchers is called fibrinopeptide A, which is produced during the coagulation of blood. According to the report published in the online journal Cell Reports, fibrinopeptide A serves as one of the factors that cause mosquitoes to stop feeding on their host. By sensing the presence of this substance, the mosquitoes can determine when it is the right time to retreat.

During artificial feeding experiments conducted by the research team, it was observed that yellow fever mosquitoes actively feed on erythrocytes, but not on plasma or serum alone. This suggests that plasma and serum contain components that cause mosquitoes to stop sucking blood. The team hypothesizes that mosquitoes sense the degree of blood coagulation by utilizing by-products of the coagulation process that are unnecessary for their hosts.

"This finding is significant as it sheds light on the mechanisms behind mosquito feeding behavior. It will lead to the development of methods for reducing mosquito-borne infections," said Chisako Sakuma, a senior scientist at Riken.

The implications of this research are far-reaching, as yellow fever mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus, and yellow fever itself. By understanding how these mosquitoes detect "safe periods" for feeding, scientists can now work towards developing new strategies to prevent mosquito bites and minimize the spread of these deadly diseases.

Further research is needed to fully understand the specific mechanisms by which yellow fever mosquitoes sense the coagulation state of blood. However, this breakthrough represents a significant step forward in the fight against mosquito-borne infections and offers hope for the development of innovative approaches to protect human populations from these disease-carrying insects.

As efforts continue to combat mosquito-borne illnesses, the findings of the Japanese research team bring us one step closer to limiting the impact of these diseases and safeguarding global health.