Minor Tweak, Major Impact

Dr. Matthew DeGennaro’s laboratory at Florida International University studies the molecular genetics of mosquito host detection and the vector ecology of Aedes aegypti. During his postdoctoral training at Rockefeller University with Leslie Vosshall, he used the first mosquito mutant to study behavior in yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. His work has explored how mosquitoes sense human sweat, choose a host, and avoid repellents like DEET. Matt’s current goal is to identify the critical olfactory receptors that mosquitoes need to find humans and use these genes to identify new attractants and repellents.Referenced Links:DeGennaro Labhttp://www.degennarolab.org/