Publications by authors named "C Montell"
Deafness due to loss of a TRPV channel eliminates mating behavior in males.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
November 2024
Attraction and mating between male and female animals depend on effective communication between conspecifics. However, in mosquitoes, we have only a rudimentary understanding of the sensory cues and receptors critical for the communication that is essential for reproductive behavior. While it is known that male use sound to help them identify females, it is not unclear whether sound detection is absolutely required since other cues such as vision may also participate in mating behavior.
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- - Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, yellow fever, and Zika severely impact many people, especially in developing nations, with Aedes aegypti being a key mosquito species responsible for spreading these viruses.
- - Aedes aegypti females use a combination of sensory cues, including body heat, chemical odors, and visual signals, to locate humans, and this study identifies thermal infrared (IR) radiation as an important mid-range cue in their navigation.
- - The research shows that the detection of IR radiation involves specific sensory neurons in the mosquito's antenna, which are activated by heat and contribute to their effectiveness in finding hosts.
To survive adverse environments, many animals enter a dormant state such as hibernation, dauer, or diapause. Various species undergo adult reproductive diapause in response to cool temperatures and/or short day-length. While flies are less active during diapause, it is unclear how adverse environmental conditions affect circadian rhythms and sleep.
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