Hebrew U Researcher Pioneers Discovery That Could Help Target Mosquitoes
By Isabel Engel, NoCamels June 08, 2022
Mosquitoes are responsible for roughly 2.7 million deaths each year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). More than being a nuisance, the trillions of mosquitoes on Earth can transmit deadly diseases throughout the global population. Consequently, researchers like Dr. Jonathan Bohbot are ‘abuzz’ with new repellant solutions to keep our surroundings mosquito-free.
Dr. Bohbot, an entomologist and assistant professor at The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, pioneered the discovery of a molecule that may eventually serve as a potential mosquito repellent. His discovery contributes to the growing mosquito repellent market, valued in 2020 at over $4 billion. In such a growing field – where global warming will continue to drive the population of mosquitoes upwards – safe mosquito repellent solutions are needed more than ever.
Bohbot and his team have dedicated their research to investigating mosquitoes’ senses of smell – a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to determining which molecules deter and attract these insects.
By Isabel Engel, NoCamels June 08, 2022
Mosquitoes are responsible for roughly 2.7 million deaths each year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). More than being a nuisance, the trillions of mosquitoes on Earth can transmit deadly diseases throughout the global population. Consequently, researchers like Dr. Jonathan Bohbot are ‘abuzz’ with new repellant solutions to keep our surroundings mosquito-free.
Dr. Bohbot, an entomologist and assistant professor at The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, pioneered the discovery of a molecule that may eventually serve as a potential mosquito repellent. His discovery contributes to the growing mosquito repellent market, valued in 2020 at over $4 billion. In such a growing field – where global warming will continue to drive the population of mosquitoes upwards – safe mosquito repellent solutions are needed more than ever.
Bohbot and his team have dedicated their research to investigating mosquitoes’ senses of smell – a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to determining which molecules deter and attract these insects.