A potential link between aromatics‐induced oviposition repellency behaviors and specific odorant receptor of Aedes albopictus

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BACKGROUND The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus , is a competent vector for the spread of several viral arboviruses including dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Several vital mosquito behaviors linked to survival and reproduction are primarily dependent on a sophisticated olfactory system for semiochemical perception. However, a limited number of studies has hampered our understanding of the relationship between the A. albopictus acute olfactory system and the complex chemical world. RESULTS Here, we performed a qRT‐PCR assay on antennae from A. albopictus of differing sex, age and physiological states, and found that AalbOr10 was enriched in blood‐fed female mosquitoes. We then undertook single sensillum recording to de‐orphan AalbOr10 using a panel of physiologically and behaviorally relevant odorants in a Drosophila ‘empty neuron’ system. The results indicated that AalbOr10 was activated by seven aromatic compounds, all of which hampered egg‐laying in blood‐fed mosquitoes. Furthermore, using a post‐RNA interference oviposition assay, we found that reducing the transcript level of AalbOr10 affected repellent activity mediated by 2‐ethylphenol at low concentrations (10 −4 vol/vol). Computational modeling and molecular docking studies suggested that hydrogen bonds to Y68 and Y150 mediated the interaction of 2‐ethylphenol with AalbOr10. CONCLUSION We reveal a potential link between aromatics‐induced oviposition repellency behaviors and a specific odorant receptor in A. albopictus . Our findings provide a foundation for identifying active semiochemicals for the monitoring or controlling of mosquito populations.