Project properties
Title Finding novel repellents against mosquitoes

Group Entomology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24 / 39
Supervisor(s) Sander Koenraadt
Tessa Visser
Examiner(s) Marcel Dicke
Contact info sander.koenraadt@wur.nl
Begin date 2009/03/02
End date 2024/12/31
Description Female mosquitoes are attracted to humans and animals by odours produced by skin bacteria. Humans differ considerably in their degree of attractiveness to mosquitoes. Less attractive individuals might release lower amounts of attractive odours and/or release higher amounts of repelling odours. We aim to identify the chemicals responsible for these differences in attractiveness, particularly repellent compounds. In addition to repellent chemicals emitted by hosts, we also search for compounds of plant origin. Several candidate compounds have been selected using chemical analysis and behavioural assays. Students can participate in this work by investigating the effect of individual compounds at a range of concentrations and of mixtures of candidate compounds. This study will use a windtunnel and several species of mosquitoes, among which African malaria mosquitoes.
Used skills Behavioral experiments, various lab setups, data-analysis, writing scientific report; chemical ecology.
Requirements For doing a BSc-thesis at Entomology, there are no requirements for specific courses.
For doing a MSc-thesis or internship at Entomology, the following requirements apply: ENT-30806 + a second ENT-course (preferably ENT-30306 or ENT-50806 or ENT-53806). As an alternative for the second ENT-course, PHP-30806 or BHE-30306 can be selected.
Note: these requirements do not apply for MBI students; MBI students should check the requirements for doing an ENT MSc-thesis or internship in the study programme of their specialisation.