SCIENTISTS have found
chemicals in skin that makes humans "invisible" to mosquitoes.
Latest findings may also explain why the blood-sucking insect finds some people tastier than others.
Health experts believe the human "invisibility cloak'' could be the holy grail in the fight against deadly mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever.
Researchers found of the hundreds of different compounds in human skin one group of chemicals acts as a repellent to mask human smell from the insects.
By blocking the mosquito's ability to smell potential targets, it helps make some humans "invisible'' to the insect.
The new findings were made public by Dr Ulrich Bernier who heads a research team at the United States Department of Agriculture.
Dr Bernier, who also works for US military on how to protect troops from disease-carrying insects, is investigating why repellents like Deet are becoming less effective.
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He told how a hand sprayed with the human compound and put in a tank of mosquitos was left untouched.
Mosquito expert Dr Nigel Beebe, of the University of Queensland and CSIRO, said the research follows anecdotal stories of people who "actually repel mosquitoes".
"Mosquitoes can determine subtle differences in smell, that is why with a couple in bed only one might get bitten.
"The body secrets oils, it gives people a certain smell, everyone has a different fingerprint of a smell.
"That explains why some people are more tasty to mosquitoes than others.''
He said the naturally-occurring repellent was a potential holy grail to protect against diseases like malaria, chikungunya and the latest dengue fever outbreak in north Queensland.
But it was likely still many years off the production line as a lotion or spray, he said.
Latest findings may also explain why the blood-sucking insect finds some people tastier than others.
Health experts believe the human "invisibility cloak'' could be the holy grail in the fight against deadly mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever.
Researchers found of the hundreds of different compounds in human skin one group of chemicals acts as a repellent to mask human smell from the insects.
By blocking the mosquito's ability to smell potential targets, it helps make some humans "invisible'' to the insect.
The new findings were made public by Dr Ulrich Bernier who heads a research team at the United States Department of Agriculture.
Dr Bernier, who also works for US military on how to protect troops from disease-carrying insects, is investigating why repellents like Deet are becoming less effective.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
He told how a hand sprayed with the human compound and put in a tank of mosquitos was left untouched.
Mosquito expert Dr Nigel Beebe, of the University of Queensland and CSIRO, said the research follows anecdotal stories of people who "actually repel mosquitoes".
"Mosquitoes can determine subtle differences in smell, that is why with a couple in bed only one might get bitten.
"The body secrets oils, it gives people a certain smell, everyone has a different fingerprint of a smell.
"That explains why some people are more tasty to mosquitoes than others.''
He said the naturally-occurring repellent was a potential holy grail to protect against diseases like malaria, chikungunya and the latest dengue fever outbreak in north Queensland.
But it was likely still many years off the production line as a lotion or spray, he said.
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