Linhan Dong, Laura B Duvall
Mosquito-borne illnesses have shaped human history and continue to impose significant global public health burdens, with particularly devastating effects in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Blood feeding is essential for mosquito reproduction, as blood provides nutrients for egg development, and vector species are strongly driven to find and bite humans for this blood meal. These maternally-driven behaviors not only expose humans to pathogens but also promote mosquito population growth. Recent advances have deepened our understanding of the sensory systems and internal state regulation behind host seeking and biting. Here, we examine the behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms underlying mosquito-human interactions and their role in pathogen transmission and disease. We also highlight how these insights can inform emerging behavioral control strategies.