Benjamin John Matthews

Surface texture guides egg-laying decisions in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

This study shows Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use surface texture and integrate it with water salinity to select egg-laying sites, and texture affects their search behavior.

An Eco-Evolutionary Modelling Framework for Mosquito Host Specialisation

This paper develops an eco-evolutionary model to explain mosquito host specialisation, showing it is environmentally gated and influenced by resource availability and seasonality.

A molecular and cellular mechanism for bitter taste in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

This study identifies a bitter taste receptor in mosquitoes that influences feeding behavior differently during nectar and blood-feeding.

Living by the sea: chromosome-scale genome assembly and salt gland transcriptomes provide insights into ion regulatory mechanisms in the saline-tolerant mosquito Aedes togoi

This study presents a chromosome-scale genome assembly and transcriptomes of Aedes togoi, revealing ion regulatory mechanisms enabling its saline tolerance.

Cross-modal sensory compensation increases mosquito attraction to humans

The paper identifies a sensory compensation mechanism in female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes where loss of odorant receptor co-receptor Orco leads to enhanced heat detection via upregulated Ir140 in forelegs.

Non-canonical odor coding in the mosquito

Aedes aegypti olfactory neurons often co-express OR, IR and sometimes GR receptors; in the maxillary palp, one neuron type responds to odorants via both OR and IR pathways.

Chemical signatures of human odour generate a unique neural code in the brain of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

The paper shows that human odour activates unique combinations of olfactory glomeruli in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, with a specific glomerulus tuned to long-chain aldehydes found in human skin lipids.

The ion channel ppk301 controls freshwater egg-laying in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

This study identifies ppk301 as a critical ion channel for freshwater egg-laying in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, showing its role in detecting water and salt concentrations.

Improved Aedes aegypti mosquito reference genome assembly enables biological discovery and vector control

The paper presents an improved Aedes aegypti genome assembly, AaegL5, which enhances biological understanding and vector control efforts by resolving key genomic features and identifying new targets for intervention.