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Full text release has been delayed at the author's request until May 05, 2025

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Effects of Ambient Temperature on Response of Mosquito TRPA1: Implications for the Efficacy of Mosquito Repellents

Park, Yeaeun
http://orcid.org/0009-0002-5783-9918
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1720536380165041

Abstract Details

2024, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environmental Science.
Blood-seeking mosquitoes primarily rely on thermal and chemical cues as they navigate towards hosts. Mosquitoes display specific preferences for target host temperature while avoiding harmful ambient temperature. This behavior known as thermotaxis is in part regulated by the nociceptor transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), which is expressed in thermosensitive sensilla of mosquitoes. TRPA1 of female mosquitoes is known to detect both noxious temperatures and chemicals; when activated by these stimuli, TRPA1 triggers avoidance behaviors. Therefore, TRPA1 is considered a potential biochemical target for mosquito repellents and antifeedants. One aspect of TRPA1 channels from mosquitoes and other insects that has not been fully studied is the potential interactions between temperature and chemical agonists. In this study, I examined whether high ambient temperatures that activate Aedes aegypti TRPA1 (AaTRPA1) influence the sensitivity of the channel and behavior of mosquitoes to repellent TRPA1 chemical agonists. First, I expressed AaTRPA1 heterologously in Xenopus laevis oocytes and used whole-cell two-electrode voltage clamping to measure TRPA1 activity. I found that the electrophysiological response of AaTRPA1 to two chemical agonists (catnip oil, citronellal) was significantly reduced while the channel was activated by a thermal stimulus ( ~38°C). Moreover, in behavioral bioassays, I found that adult female Ae. aegypti were less repelled by catnip oil when exposed to a noxious temperature (~50°C). Collectively, my results suggest that TRPA1-agonizing repellents, such as catnip oil, may be less efficacious during extreme heat events, which are becoming more common as global climate change progresses.
Peter Piermarini (Advisor)
Megan Meuti (Committee Member)
Larry Phelan (Committee Member)
61 p.
Cellular Biology; Entomology; Physiology
Aedes aegypti; mosquito; heterologous expression; electrophysiology; voltage clamping; thermoregulation; thermal preference; nociceptor; agonism; pesticide; repellent; repellency; behavioral bioassay; cation transporter; thermotaxis; receptor; TRPA1; TRP channels; physiology; global warming

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Park, Y. (2024). Effects of Ambient Temperature on Response of Mosquito TRPA1: Implications for the Efficacy of Mosquito Repellents [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1720536380165041

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Park, Yeaeun. Effects of Ambient Temperature on Response of Mosquito TRPA1: Implications for the Efficacy of Mosquito Repellents. 2024. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1720536380165041.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Park, Yeaeun. "Effects of Ambient Temperature on Response of Mosquito TRPA1: Implications for the Efficacy of Mosquito Repellents." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1720536380165041

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1720536380165041
© 2024, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.