Yinliang Wang

Abstract Plant-derived repellents containing borneol and camphor have been used for centuries, yet the sensory mechanisms that mediate their effects in mosquitoes have remained obscure. Here, we show that culicine mosquitoes possess a dedicated olfactory pathway for detecting bicyclic monoterpenoids. We identify odorant receptor 49 (OR49) as a conserved and highly selective borneol receptor expressed in a distinct neuron of the maxillary palp.

Abstract Pangolins are mammals of important conservation interest, as only eight extant species remain globally and all are considered to be at risk of extinction. The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is a burrowing and nocturnal animal with poor vision, thus intraspecies communication such as mating, warning, and scent-marking relies on olfaction. The specific pheromone involved in intraspecies communication in pangolins remains unknown.

Abstract The use of essential oils derived from the camphor tree to repel mosquitoes is an ancient practice that originated in Southeast Asia and gradually spread to China and across Europe via the Maritime Silk Road. The olfactory mechanisms by which these oils elicit avoidance behavior are unclear.