| Summary: | Many species of mosquitoes, including the major malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, utilize olfactory and temperature cues in host-seeking behaviors that underlie their vectorial capacity. By using a combination of molecular and physiological approaches, we have studied the three head appendages of female An. gambiae mosquitoes, the antenna, the maxillary palp and the proboscis, and have characterized their respective functions in olfaction or thermoreception that might impact the host-seeking behavior of An. gambiae. Specifically, we have described three types of sensilla, the labellar T2 sensilla, the palpal capitate pegs and the antennal small coeloconica sensilla, and have characterized their responses to olfactory or temperature stimulation and have identified the underlying molecular and cellular components of these sensilla. These results facilitate the understanding of how An. gambiae mosquitoes sense human hosts that might be exploited to compromise their ability to transmit malaria.
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