Short Summary:
Scientists have uncovered why mosquito seem to target some people more than others and it’s not just about luck. New research reveals the surprising role of body odour, skin chemistry, and even your soap in attracting these persistent pests. Here’s what the science says, and what you can do about it.
A Pill With a Sting
A prescription drug already used to treat a rare genetic disease in humans could make a person’s blood deadly to malaria carrying mosquitoes even those resistant to insecticides.
New research published July 31, 2025, in Parasites & Vectors found that nitisinone, “a novel mode of action distinct from current [insecticides] by specifically targeting blood digestion processes,” can also kill mosquitoes that merely land on a surface sprayed with the chemical.
The potential is huge: “The fact that it effectively kills insecticide resistant mosquitoes could be a game changer,” said study author Lee Haines.
From Weed Killer to Life Saver
Nitisinone began as an herbicide, derived from a toxin in the Australian bottlebrush plant. Researchers discovered it blocked tyrosine a nonessential amino acid that regulates hormones and repurposed it to treat tyrosinemia type I and alkaptonuria, rare disorders affecting tyrosine metabolism. The FDA approved it for human use in 2002.
But what’s medicine for some is poison for others. Mosquitoes that fed on blood from humans taking nitisinone “died within several hours of their meal.” The drug blocks enzymes needed to process proteins and amino acids, disrupting their “bloodmeal digestion” and “effectively clogging the mosquitoes’ digestive system.”
More to Read: How a pasta recipe has triggered a diplomatic row between UK and Italy?
Death by Foot Contact
The latest twist: mosquitoes don’t have to drink it. In lab tests, scientists exposed several species to surfaces treated with nitisinone and other HPPD inhibitors. The insects “absorbed nitisinone through their feet,” showing the same paralysis, darkened bodies, and eventual death seen in blood-fed trials.
How the absorption works and why similar drugs failed remains unclear. Still, Haines says, “This project proved how important it is to think outside the box.”
A New Weapon Against Resistance
Insecticide resistant mosquitoes are no small problem: WHO data show they’ve been detected in “over 90 percent of countries where malaria is considered endemic,” and some studies suggest resistant populations may make up to 30 percent of the total. With malaria infecting 263 million people annually and killing nearly 600,000, the need for alternatives is urgent.
Nitisinone’s versatility means it could be applied to bed nets, screens, or other household materials. “Working with a drug like nitisinone, and its versatility, bodes well for creating new products to combat mosquitoes,” said Haines.
Mosquito Wars, Human Ingenuity
From genetically modified mosquitoes in the U.S. to “elephant mosquitoes” in China that eat dengue carriers, our fight against the buzzing menace has never lacked creativity. But in the future, victory might be as simple as “rubbing some nitisinone on the screens.”