A group of Chinese researchers has found that Dengue and Zika viruses can manipulate the scent of their hosts (humans) to make them more attractive to mosquitoes to transmit the viruses.The finding, published yesterday in the online journal Cell, also paves the way for controlling mosquito vector diseases with a vitamin supplement to interrupt the process and potentially reduce the risk of infecting others.The dengue virus, which causes fever, rash, and sometimes death, is spread by mosquitoes in tropical regions, with more than 50 million cases occurring each year.Zika virus can cause brain or nervous system complications and birth defects when a pregnant woman is infected.In a tropical climate, the disease is spread by mosquitoes that bite infected host animals, infect them and transmit the virus through future bites.It was already known that certain diseases alter the host's scent, making it attractive to mosquitoes.A group of researchers from Tsinghua University, Institute of Infectious Diseases in Shenzhen and Ruili Hospital of Chinese Medicine began their groundbreaking research by examining whether this also applies to dengue and Zika viruses."Mosquitoes rely on their sense of smell to detect hosts and guide basic behaviors for survival. At the beginning of this study, we found that mosquitoes preferred to seek out and feed on mice infected with dengue fever and Zika," he said.THEY FOUND THE RESPONSIBLE MOLECULEThrough testing, the experts found that mosquitoes were more attracted to mice infected with dengue and Zika than healthy mice.Then they continued to investigate the reason for this attraction.Chemical analysis of infected mice and humans identified a molecule called acetophenone that mosquitoes find particularly attractive.Cheng said flaviviruses like dengue and Zika could use the increase in acetophenone to help the life cycle more effectively, "making their hosts more attractive to mosquito vectors."A TREATMENT CHANCE IS BORN!To confirm that acetophenone does indeed play a key role in attracting mosquitoes, the researchers applied the molecule to clean mice and the hands of human volunteers and showed that acetophenone is a strong attraction for mosquitoes.The study findings show the potential for a new way to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever and Zika.Cheng said his team plans to apply their research in the real world by giving isotretinoin, a type of vitamin A derivative, to dengue patients in Malaysia.Turkey's news site hurriyet.com.tr for the latest events abroad, foreign news that is on the world's agenda, breaking world news, current news from other world countries;Hurriyet.com.tr news content cannot be quoted without reference, cannot be copied or published elsewhere illegally and without permission.