Vector biology: A mosquito's deadly kiss on the LIPS

A new study identifies a mosquito salivary protein that directly binds to a cuticular partner during biting to reshape the mosquito mouthparts, stimulate salivation and probing, and enhance blood-feeding efficiency. By affecting mosquito-host interactions, this phenomenon could influence pathogen transmission.

Automated summary

A new study has discovered a mosquito salivary protein that binds directly to a cuticular partner during biting, leading to reshaping of the mosquito mouthparts, increased salivation and probing, and enhanced blood-feeding efficiency. By impacting mosquito-host interactions, this finding could have implications for pathogen transmission.