Exploring Chemical Language between Vector, Parasite, and Host

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical and Livestock Entomology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2026) | Viewed by 2319

Editor


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Guest Editor
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom, Liverpool, UK
Interests: vector-parasite-host interactions; chemical ecology; mosquito; mosquito behavior; disease transmission; malaria; preventive strategies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to invite contributions to a Special Issue titled "Exploring Chemical Language between Vector, Parasite, and Host".

This Special Issue will explore the intriguing world of chemical communication that takes place between disease vectors (such as mosquitoes), parasites (like those causing malaria), and their hosts (humans or animals). We aim to deepen our understanding of the subtle chemical signals that influence key behaviors, such as host-seeking, by vectors and manipulation by parasites to ensure survival. Unraveling this "chemical code" could lead to breakthroughs in disrupting disease transmission and developing novel treatments and preventive strategies.

We are particularly interested in articles that address the following topics:

  • Chemical signaling in vector–host interactions;
  • Parasite manipulation of host behavior and physiology;
  • Vector olfaction and sensory perception;
  • Immune response modulation by parasites;
  • Novel methods for disrupting vector-borne disease transmission;
  • Host-seeking behavior in mosquitoes and other vectors;
  • Environmental and ecological factors influencing chemical communication.

If your research touches on any of these topics or related areas, I encourage you to submit your article for consideration. Your contributions can help advance our collective understanding and pave the way for innovative solutions to combat vector-borne diseases.

Dr. Noushin Emami
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chemical communication
  • vector-borne diseases
  • parasite–host interaction
  • mosquito behavior
  • disease transmission
  • malaria
  • preventive strategies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 5006 KB  
Article
Electroantennographic and Behavioral Evidence Identifies Carvone and IR3535 as Biting Deterrents Against Rhodnius prolixus (Stål, 1872)
by Edwin Rodolfo Escobar-Olarte, Gustavo Adolfo Rincón, María Fernanda Vidal, Ruth Mariela Castillo, Agustín Góngora, Sandra Carolina Montaño-Contreras, María Carolina Velásquez-Martínez and Jonny Edward Duque
Insects 2026, 17(8), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17080829 - 10 Aug 2026
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Abstract
Electroantennography (EAG) is a valuable approach for monitoring insect antennal responses to insecticidal and test compounds and may provide a preliminary screening method for identifying compounds with potential activity against medically important insect vectors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the [...] Read more.
Electroantennography (EAG) is a valuable approach for monitoring insect antennal responses to insecticidal and test compounds and may provide a preliminary screening method for identifying compounds with potential activity against medically important insect vectors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the EAG responses of Rhodnius prolixus to different xenobiotics and to compare these electrophysiological responses with host approach and protection against biting. Antennae from adult triatomines subjected to prolonged fasting (≥30 days) were exposed to the tested compounds. In parallel, live-bait behavioral bioassays were conducted using Gallus gallus and a newly designed laboratory device. Exposure to IR3535 and carvone produced a greater than 60% reduction in ammonia-induced EAG amplitude, consistent with the protection times observed in the behavioral assays (135.6 ± 43.29 min and 108.0 ± 26.33 min, respectively). These findings indicate that IR3535 and carvone alter antennal responses to ammonia and provide prolonged protection against R. prolixus bites. Because neither compound significantly delayed host approach, the observed behavioral effect was more consistent with biting deterrence than with demonstrated spatial repellency. EAG may therefore serve as a preliminary complementary screening approach, although its ability to identify compounds that interfere with hematophagous feeding requires further validation using larger and chemically diverse compound libraries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Chemical Language between Vector, Parasite, and Host)
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Review

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12 pages, 719 KB  
Review
Crop: The Black Box of Mosquito Vector Fitness
by Ainhoa Rodriguez-Pereira, Frances M. Hawkes and S. Noushin Emami
Insects 2026, 17(3), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17030234 - 25 Feb 2026
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Abstract
In mosquitoes, digestion involves the foregut (including the crop), midgut, and hindgut, with the midgut and crop playing important roles in processing sugar and blood meals. The well-studied midgut is a known major pathogen entry point; however, the less-explored crop may affect vector [...] Read more.
In mosquitoes, digestion involves the foregut (including the crop), midgut, and hindgut, with the midgut and crop playing important roles in processing sugar and blood meals. The well-studied midgut is a known major pathogen entry point; however, the less-explored crop may affect vector fitness and immunity. This review provides an overview of the anatomy and function of the crop, before drawing together the current state of knowledge of (I) the crop’s role in digestion, (II) its immune function, and (III) the importance of the crop microbiome and its potential role in mosquito fitness. After decades of chemical control, vector management must move beyond immediate disease prevention toward a global approach that considers mosquito biology and the crop’s diverse roles. This may make it a suitable target for new innovations by providing insights into detoxification mechanisms, microbiome-mediated functions, and their potential combined effects on vectorial capacity. Future research is needed to better understand crop function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Chemical Language between Vector, Parasite, and Host)
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