Drosophila as a Model for Mosquito: Olfactory Signals and Host Seeking Behaviour

Olfactory cue dependence of insects such as mosquitoes is beneficial in understanding insect behaviour during host seeking. Understanding of the host-seeking behaviour, particularly, the olfactory process involved in it at molecular level is likely to provide new means of controlling insects. A number of studies have shown Drosophila as a successful model system to decipher and delineate the role of olfactory genes. Such studies can be extended to understand the host-seeking behaviour of mosquitoes. We discuss recent progress in this area and an emerging new approach that can utilize Drosophila, genetically modified to carry mosquito receptors, in identifying compounds that can be subsequently used to control mosquitoes.